Port Replicators, Dell Inspirons, and Linux

Hi All, I am thinking about getting a port replicator or docking station for my Dell Inspiron 3500 laptop. I have SuSE Personal Edition 8.0 installed on it. Does anyone know if it is a complicated process getting a port replicator to work with Linux? I am pretty new to computers in general, and do not know whether this is a situation that will require drivers that may or may not have been written, or if it is a difficult thing to get running or not. Hard or Easy? That is my main question. Thanks. Neal McDermott