Systems and methods for generating a metadata log in a database recovery system include generating, at its primary system, a metadata log for a logging period. A change applied to a metadata object accessible from the primary system is detected, and upon detection, the system identifies a pair of a unique metadata identifier and a metadata type for the changed metadata object and determines a metadata structure of the changed metadata object. A data exchange object for the metadata structure is generated and a data exchange element from the data exchange object is created. The metadata log is updated with log information that includes the data exchange element and the pair, which is associated with the data exchange element. Upon the logging period ending, the metadata log is transmitted to a secondary system of the database recovery system for replaying. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.