virtualbox.org

I'd like to configure networking for a Windows XP guest running in an Ubuntu host on VBox 2.1.2.

I need more than NAT or Internal Network as I'd like to have full access from my Linux machine, however I have no requirement for the guest to be accessible from beyond the host machine (in fact because the network is MAC locked I can't even DHCP via the local LAN).

Ideal scenario would be that the guest would have its own IP address (and entry in /etc/hosts) so that within the host I can telnet, ftp etc.

I have tried using port forwarding using VBoxManage setextradata, however due to the number and range of ports required this was too burdensome.

Any ideas?

See the VirtualBox FAQ. It has a note how to use the Host Interface system of previous versions. All you need is a TAP interface, an IP on that, set the VM to use that TAP and set the same IP range on the HIF in the VM.