Sum-frequency mixing of a laser diode end-pumped a-cut Nd:YVO4 self-Raman laser is reported. Reasonable designing of cavity construction and crystal coating, as well as choosing of sum-frequency mixing crystal are considered. The laser system is optimized for continuous-wave mode and Q-switched mode operation. Continuous-wave yellow-green laser with output power of 580 mW and wavelength of 558.6 nm is achieved at a pump power of 12 W, and the corresponding optical-optical conversion efficiency is about 5%. With pump power of 17.5 W and Q-switch repetition frequency of 30 kHz, yellow-green laser output power up to 1.71 W is achieved whose pulse width is 21 ns and optical-optical conversion efficiency is 9.8%.