The objective of this paper is to emphasize a clear and natural distinction in strategies of sensor network design. In order to display different architectural paradigms in today's wireless sensor networking, the classification of sensor networks as intensive and extensive ones is introduced and explained. Main paradigms representative for both technologies are compared. As follows from the discussion, the intensive and extensive sensor networks technologies supplement each other in a complementary way. The intensive sensor networks are exemplified by LonWorks platform. Dense and randomly deployed wireless sensor networks that reveal an innovative approach in last years are classified as the extensive networks.