A method and system for suspending log-based updates to a database in a manner that permits resumption of log-based updating without reinitializing the database. The method and system thereby permit efficient alternation between a log-based update mode and a database access mode. Unplayed log records are protected as revisions of database pages at the time that the log-based update was suspended. This approach permits log-based updating to resume at the same point at which log-based updating was suspended. In order to ensure consistent data for access while in database access mode, a roll-back procedure creates consistent data pages that are used for access and discarded when log-based update resumes.