A multi-layer management system for a software defined network (SDN) is disclosed. The multi-layer management system comprises an external relationship management functional component (ERM-FC) interworking with an external management entity and providing management functions to the external management entity, a SDN application layer management functional component (ALM-FC) for management of resources of a SDN application layer (SDN-AL); a SDN resource layer management functional component (RLM-FC) for management of resources of a SDN resource layer (SDN-RL); a SDN control layer management functional component (CLM-FC) for management of resources of a SDN control layer (SDN-CL); and a multi-layer management orchestration functional component (MMO-FC) for management of SDN application and service and inter-layer resource management.