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……