So, apparently I set up the server ok, and it's up and running and I was able to join it. Once. I was able to join it once but the next time I tried it said I couldn't reach my own server? Besides that what's the IP address I give to my friends? I ran CMD and put in IPConfig and according to just about every youtube video on this topic, I should be focusing on this little section: 
but before I hand out the address I think is correct, I want to make sure which to give to my friends. And which is the one I use to log on?
What's the Minecraft server IP I give?
Manonymous
Most routers do not do LAN2LAN via WAN IP. So locally you will likely need to connect to the LAN IP of your server because "you" might not be able to access it by your public IP. But anyone else on the internet would need to connect to your "public" IP (not the private LAN IP of your server).
That is best done by giving your server a static (manually assigned) LAN IP, netmask, gateway (router IP) and nameserver(s) (often same as router IP). Otherwise if your server gets an IP automatically, that could change and stop working. Then on your router you need to forward TCP port 25565 (or whatever server-port=) to the LAN IP of your server. That can be somewhat more complicated if you have a 2nd router behind a modem that is actually a modem/router. It is best to leave server-ip= blank in server.properties.
efflandt
You need to restart your server if you turned your computer off or ended it in any other way. The IP is the IP that your ISP gives you.
Guest
Google knows
Jarod