A method, and corresponding computer program product and computer system, for replicating a database image in a distributed database environment comprises: defining a checkpoint image of the primary node including a database structure and a plurality of database pages; creating a replica database by initiating a backup node and saving the defined structure on the initiated backup node; sending each database page of the checkpoint image for saving on the backup node; saving every transaction on the primary node and creating a corresponding REDO transaction; identifying each data page operated on by each REDO transaction; sending each created REDO transaction to the backup node in the order in which the corresponding transaction occurred, and prioritizing each identified database page so that it arrives at the backup node before or substantially at the same time as a corresponding REDO transaction.