At a briefing in Waltham, Mass., Tuesday, Red Hat CEO Matthew Szulik said the distribution is aimed at blade and appliance manufacturers.

It will be based on the same code as the company's forthcoming Enterprise Linux 3 line, but without the services component, Szulik said.

"They want a stripped-down, lightweight version," Szulik said of the OEM program. Symbol Technologies is one OEM slated to participate in the program, he said.

Meanwhile, as the Linux company's enterprise push gains steam, it looks as if it will once again delay the long-awaited introduction of its channel program.

The Red Hat channel program, which was expected to be rolled out by year's end, may be pushed off until the SMB market develops, Szulik said.

However, the delay doesn't mean Red Hat is changing its mind about the services side of the business, he said. "We think the [SMB] market is still embryonic," Szulik said.