sudo nano /etc/network/interfaces
update the file to look like the following (of course change to your network info)
auto eth0
iface eth0 inet static
address 192.168.1.100
netmask 255.255.255.0
network 192.168.1.0
broadcast 192.168.1.255
gateway 192.168.1.1
sudo /etc/init.d/networking restart
References
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/ubuntu/change-ubuntu-server-from-dhcp-to-a-static-ip-address/

Seems that Dell is a pretty good judge of Linux character
First major company to factory install Red Hat Linux corporate systems.
http://www.redhat.com/about/news/prarchive/1999/press_linuxsuccess.html
First to install ubuntu in 2007
http://www.ubuntu.com/news/dell-to-offer-ubuntu