Data in a database cache in memory of an operating database server is copied to memory of a standby database server, without requiring synchronization between the operating server and the standby server. If the operating server fails, the database is recovered to a consistent state in the standby server using a sequential database log and the copied data in the cache of the standby server. Preferably, recovery is performed by reading the log to determine a set of database actions to recover, verifying blocks of data in the standby server's cache, using verified blocks to recover at least some actions, and reading blocks from storage only when a corresponding verified block is not available in the cache.