IP confusion... Looking for the right numbers.

I need to give my IP address to someone (playing a multiplayer game which I'm hosting) but have never done anything like this since getting a router.

I need to know how I can find out the IP address my friend can put into her game and connect to mine.

I've run ipconfig in the command prompt and the only thing I get is what I assume to be my IP address on my local network.

Considering this setup....
[Internet].....[Router].....{WiFi}.....[Laptop]

I need to know how to find out what number(s) to pass on so we can get started.

I know this isn't exactly a gaming forum, but I don't think this is a gaming question, more a question about networks, especially as this is something I've been wondering a while quite apart from games.

If any mods feel this is in the wrong place then do feel free to move it, but please make a note in here as a reply so I can see where I've gone wrong.

Thanks folks.

BigShot

 

www.showmemyip.com

This will show your your public IP, which is the address you want to forward.

ipconfig will show you your PRIVATE IP addresses, which exist only on your network. Each of these are translated into a single public IP by your router for use on the internet.

Note that you may also have to configure your firewall so that your friend can access your game server... but that's a bridge we can cross when we come to it.

 

I came across a site to show the actual IP last night but that address is much easier to remember. Thanks for that.

Ok, I couldn't find my router password anywhere (written on paper hidden away as I use rather complex passwords to be on the safe side) so have just reset the whole shooting match.
I've assigned my computer a static IP, as I believe in order for me to act as the game server behind a router I need to use something called Port Forwarding.

I'm not all that sure how to go about setting that up completely, but I've at least got the static IP part done now. In about an hour we'll be trying to connect up for a game so I'll see how it goes then and post up again if I have any further issues.
I can see the next issue being how to find out exactly what ports I need to forward and what to do when I don't want it forwarding (shot of accessing the router and turning off that forwarding rule)

Another potential hiccup being that I know some ports are used by multiple applications and so I may need to avoid conflicts.

That's all a way off yet though. Thanks for your input Mada_Milty, I may well need more help when it comes to the next steps - all this plugging through things is fun as I'm learning about networks now (something I've never really understood before) but it gets a bit tiresome when you just can't find what you want.

Cheers.