How to join/create a private server?

[El Hadji]

I have tried to play IL-2 CoD online with a friend for the last hour but I am about to give up!

I can't join any servers and my friend can't find the one I setup! I'm not a total n00b when it comes to online gaming but this is beyond ridiciulous!

Im on a 100/100 fibre LAN and I'm not behind a router. Exceptions have been made for IL-2 in my Win 7 firewall.

Any suggestions?

My system if thats of any relevance:

Intel Core i5 3570K@4.2 GHz, MSI Nvidia GTX 680 Ligthning@1.3GHz, 8GB Corsair Vengeance DDR 3 1600. Corsair Force 3 SSD, Seagate Momentus Hybrid, TrackIR 5, Win7/64.