What distrobution of linux are you using and is it a laptop/desktop, what model? because you would realy be better off searching the linux distrobution forums to solve those type of problems (Ubuntu has problems with USB wireless adapters (as far as I know it hasn't been fix yet and I haven't checked for a long time. Other distrobutions may have the USB problem as well, again I havent checked))
Have you checked to see if your wireless card has been detected (in Ubuntu it can be found in the System->Preferences->Hardware Infomation menu).
If it is you may need to set it up in the Network configuration dialog box (Ubuntu Sytem-Administrators->Network menu)
The wireless card should be on by default. The Funtion key is more than likely a software enable/disable network connection that Dell have included, if so then you will need to find out what network adapter it is, download the Windows XP drivers for it, then download "NDIS Wrapper" then read the documentation on how to install and use it.
After installing the above, wireless networking should be enabled, if not go to the network dialog (System->Administrator->Network in Ubuntu) and Activate it, then all you should need to do is setup your network security etc,etc.
I don't like proprietary machines as I find them unreliable (with laptops you have no choice so I shop around), so far I've had 2 and neither ran correctly (cheap memory chips/Fans/heatsinks messy OS installs full of usless junk).
Now I just build my own (You still have to be carful and check for component compatibilitiy).
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