Patent ID: 7711713

Claim:
A method for limiting the amount of time for a database server to perform a crash recovery process, the method utilizing a computer processor to execute a plurality of steps comprising: specifying a maximum recovery time demand for the database server to perform the crash recovery process; during actual transaction processing dynamically calculating a current estimated recovery time for the crash recovery process, wherein said estimated recovery time is based on: a deterministic statistical analysis of cost accumulation for a log record type during prior instances of the crash recovery process; and an empirical analysis of cost accumulation for all log records corresponding to dirty pages during regular transaction processing in the database server, said empirical analysis using data from said statistical analysis; during actual transaction processing dynamically selecting a page flushing algorithm in accordance with said calculated current estimated recovery time to meet said maximum recovery time demand, wherein when said estimated recovery time is less than a first threshold, the page flushing algorithm is set to improve transaction processing of the database server, when said estimated recover time is less than a second threshold, yet greater than said first threshold, the page flushing algorithm is set to improve recovery time of the database server; and when said estimated recovery time is greater than said second threshold, the page flushing algorithm is set to achieve maximum page flushing.