Making a server on minecraft to play with your friends is too complicated, at least for me and whoever else may not be technically learned. I suggest that all you should have to do is make a server name with a passcode so you can't get hacked and then tell your friends the name of the server with the code. And whoever got on first will be the server until they get off then the server can migrate or whatever. This would make it a whole lot easier... Please comment if you have a better idea...
The funny thing is, my 87 year old grandpa likes minecraft and decided to set up a server so we could play together. He had it up the day after he told me that.
OFFICIAL POSTING/REPLYING GUIDELINES
UNOFFICIAL POSTING GUIDE (PRT)
UNOFFICIAL REPLYING GUIDE (FTC)
Then he asked me how to set the time on his VCR