For the network config, it can be done in two step (same for others critical stuff):

To help in the api spec/doc, a language exist for that: RAML (http://raml.org/). Clear and simple to understand, it can be good to use it, what do you think about that?

Indeed, lavarel can be a good chose. In fact, it is base on many Symfony components but it is maybe more easier to work with it instead of the full stack Symfony framework.
I hope I will soon have time to help for the web interface.

I put some information in the pad, what do you think about it?