After evaluation of the new features of Exchange 2010 the decision to implement it was taken.
Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 introduces the Exchange Server Deployment Assistant or ExDeploy, a new Web-based tool that can help you with your Exchange deployment. ExDeploy asks you a few questions about your current environment and then generates a custom checklist and procedures that help simplify your deployment.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/exdeploy2010/default.aspx#Home
DO NOT FORGET (as I did!)
Install Exchange SP1
http://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/archive/2010/04/07/3409710.aspx
Because I also neglected to tick the Install pre-requisites check box I also came acrosss the following aditional steps I needed to carry out……
Additional Step 1;
“The Active Directory needs to be prepared for Exchange Server and Ldifde.exe is not installed on this computer. You must install Ldifde.exe by running ‘ServerManagerCmd -i RSAT-ADDS’ or restart setup on a domain controller.”
Command Prompt – ServerManagerCmd -i RSAT-ADDS
Additional Step 2;
“The start mode for the Net. TCP Port Sharing service must be set to Automatic before Setup can continue.”
Powershell – Set-Service NetTcpPortSharing -StartupType Automatic
Additional Step 3;
verify that “Microsoft Exchange Security Groups Exchange Trusted Subsystem” group is a member of local admin group of all Exchange 2007 server
Additional Step 4;
2007 Office System Converter: Microsoft Filter Pack
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=123380
Additional Step 5;
Windows Media Encoder and Windows Media Audio Voice Codec(Required for unified Communications Role) Install Desktop Experience.
ServerManagerCmd -install Desktop-Experience