Export Running ESXi Host configuration to use as an image

[VMwareGuy007]

Is there a way to have an active ESXi host image that's currently used in vCenter, and then export that image to use for Auto Deploy later?

I don't mean using an offline bundle from VMware, this is a running ESXi host, and I want to take that host configuration as my base template for future deployments.  Any help is appreciated. 

[rdtechie]

This is part of the solution I guess. But this will not use autodeploy. This command will backup your current config:

Get-VMHostFirmware -VMHost 10.0.0.1 -BackupConfiguration -DestinationPath C:\Backup

Restoring the data:

Set-VMHostFirmware -VMHost 10.0.0.1 -Restore -SourcePath c:\bundleToRestore.tgz -HostUser root -HostPassword exampleRootPassword

Autodeploy is ment to use in combination with host profiles.