A method of determining and assigning node addresses for network devices in a network based on selecting and using one of multiple network addressing modes, comprising: selecting, depending on the phase of the network's life-cycle, one of an automap full mode, an automap-by-type full mode, an automap light mode, an automap-by-type light mode and a manual node commissioning mode for determining and assigning the node addresses for the network devices such that to add one or more new devices in the middle of the existing network devices after the network is commissioned, one of the automap light mode or the automap-by-type light mode is selected to choose the next available appropriate addresses for the newly added network devices; in response to selecting the automap full mode, determining and assigning the node addresses for the network devices (450, 460, 470) according to relative geographical locations of the network devices in a network, wherein the node addresses follow a network address sequence, and are determined and assigned automatically; in response to selecting the automap-by-type full mode, determining and assigning the node addresses for the network devices (550, 560, 570) according to the relative geographical locations of the network devices in the network within device type specific address ranges (5501, 5601, 5701), wherein the node addresses follow the network address sequence within the appropriate device type specific address ranges, and are determined and assigned automatically; in response to selecting the automap light mode, determining and assigning the node addresses for newly added network devices (6501, 6601, 6701) to an existing network according to geographical locations of the added network devices in the network, wherein the added network devices are addressed to follow the network address sequence starting with a next available address in an original network address geography; in response to selecting the automap-by-type light mode, determining and assigning the node addresses for the newly added network devices (7501, 7601, 7701) to the existing network according to the geographical locations of the added network devices in the network within the device type specific address ranges (751, 761, 771), wherein the added network devices are addressed to follow the network address sequence starting with the next available address within the appropriate device type specific address ranges in the original network address geography; and in response to selecting the manual node commissioning mode, determining and assigning the node addresses for the network devices (8501, 8601, 8701) based on the manual node commissioning mode, wherein the node address for each network device is uniquely and individually determined and assigned. selecting, depending on the phase of the network's life-cycle, one of an automap full mode, an automap-by-type full mode, an automap light mode, an automap-by-type light mode and a manual node commissioning mode for determining and assigning the node addresses for the network devices such that to add one or more new devices in the middle of the existing network devices after the network is commissioned, one of the automap light mode or the automap-by-type light mode is selected to choose the next available appropriate addresses for the newly added network devices; in response to selecting the automap full mode, determining and assigning the node addresses for the network devices (450, 460, 470) according to relative geographical locations of the network devices in a network, wherein the node addresses follow a network address sequence, and are determined and assigned automatically; in response to selecting the automap-by-type full mode, determining and assigning the node addresses for the network devices (550, 560, 570) according to the relative geographical locations of the network devices in the network within device type specific address ranges (5501, 5601, 5701), wherein the node addresses follow the network address sequence within the appropriate device type specific address ranges, and are determined and assigned automatically; in response to selecting the automap light mode, determining and assigning the node addresses for newly added network devices (6501, 6601, 6701) to an existing network according to geographical locations of the added network devices in the network, wherein the added network devices are addressed to follow the network address sequence starting with a next available address in an original network address geography; in response to selecting the automap-by-type light mode, determining and assigning the node addresses for the newly added network devices (7501, 7601, 7701) to the existing network according to the geographical locations of the added network devices in the network within the device type specific address ranges (751, 761, 771), wherein the added network devices are addressed to follow the network address sequence starting with the next available address within the appropriate device type specific address ranges in the original network address geography; and in response to selecting the manual node commissioning mode, determining and assigning the node addresses for the network devices (8501, 8601, 8701) based on the manual node commissioning mode, wherein the node address for each network device is uniquely and individually determined and assigned.