Minecraft server not opening?

Okay, so I followed the instructions of port forward to the T on how to get the ip addresses and port forward. I have an ip address set up for the server, and when I check the port it says "NOT OPEN" and I've tried lowering my firewall, trying to find the ip AGAIN and noting still works. I've sent the ip I made under the server to my friend, and I've sent my external ip.

I think I'm supposed to be able to click the option that says "Open to LAN" but it's greyed out.

Ok how are you port forwarding? ARe you using bukkit? What router have you got? I sorta need to know all these things