v4-0007-Reformat-the-XLog-record-header.patch

From e887248dc62f76510267472b195834452ce299e5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Matthias van de Meent <boekewurm+postgres@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2023 17:46:45 +0200
Subject: [PATCH v4 7/7] Reformat the XLog record header

Many WAL records don't utilize all bytes of the XLog header, resulting in a
lot of wasted bytes.

This new XLog header format saves bytes in several ways:
- Records that don't need the XID won't include it
  This potentially saves 4 bytes /record
- Records that are small enough don't need 4 bytes to describe their length
  By varint encoding the length, we save up to 3 bytes /record
  (up to 4 bytes /record if dataless records are considered)
- Only include xl_rmgrinfo if it is non-0
  Several RMGRs have a record that they use most often. We save 1 byte/record
  if that record id is 0.
- Lose some alignment losses
  We save 1 byte/record by removing one byte of alignment losses
---
 src/backend/access/transam/xlog.c         | 133 ++++++++++++++-------
 src/backend/access/transam/xloginsert.c   | 135 ++++++++++++++++------
 src/backend/access/transam/xlogreader.c   | 105 +++++++++--------
 src/backend/access/transam/xlogrecovery.c |   4 +-
 src/bin/pg_resetwal/pg_resetwal.c         |  38 +++---
 src/include/access/xlog_internal.h        | 100 +++++++++++++++-
 src/include/access/xlogreader.h           |   4 +-
 src/include/access/xlogrecord.h           | 125 +++++++++++++++++---
 8 files changed, 486 insertions(+), 158 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/backend/access/transam/xlog.c b/src/backend/access/transam/xlog.c
index 4b1ff0d1aa..5937b43f50 100644
--- a/src/backend/access/transam/xlog.c
+++ b/src/backend/access/transam/xlog.c
@@ -737,17 +737,18 @@ XLogInsertRecord(XLogRecData *rdata,
 	XLogCtlInsert *Insert = &XLogCtl->Insert;
 	pg_crc32c	rdata_crc;
 	bool		inserted;
-	XLogRecord *rechdr = (XLogRecord *) rdata->data;
-	uint8		rmgrinfo = rechdr->xl_rmgrinfo;
-	bool		isLogSwitch = (rechdr->xl_rmid == RM_XLOG_ID &&
-							   rmgrinfo == XLOG_SWITCH);
+	XLogRecHdr	rechdr;
+	bool		isLogSwitch;
 	XLogRecPtr	StartPos;
 	XLogRecPtr	EndPos;
+	XLogRecPtr	xl_prev;
 	bool		prevDoPageWrites = doPageWrites;
 	TimeLineID	insertTLI;
+	int			rec_payload_len,
+				rec_hdr_len;
 
-	/* we assume that all of the record header is in the first chunk */
-	Assert(rdata->len >= SizeOfXLogRecord);
+	/* we assume that all data of the record header is in the first chunk */
+	Assert(rdata->len >= XLogRecordMinHdrSize);
 
 	/* cross-check on whether we should be here or not */
 	if (!XLogInsertAllowed())
@@ -758,6 +759,17 @@ XLogInsertRecord(XLogRecData *rdata,
 	 * change, so we can read it without a lock.
 	 */
 	insertTLI = XLogCtl->InsertTimeLineID;
+	rechdr = (XLogRecHdr) rdata->data;
+
+	{
+		XLogRecord	record = {0};
+		XLogReadRecHdrInto(rechdr, (Size) rdata->len, &record);
+
+		isLogSwitch = (record.xl_rmid == RM_XLOG_ID &&
+					   record.xl_rmgrinfo == XLOG_SWITCH);
+		rec_hdr_len = (int) XLogRecordHdrLen(rechdr->xl_info);
+		rec_payload_len = (int) record.xl_payload_len;
+	}
 
 	/*----------
 	 *
@@ -834,34 +846,44 @@ XLogInsertRecord(XLogRecData *rdata,
 	}
 
 	/*
-	 * Reserve space for the record in the WAL. This also sets the xl_prev
-	 * pointer.
+	 * Reserve space for the record in the WAL.
 	 */
 	if (isLogSwitch)
-		inserted = ReserveXLogSwitch(&StartPos, &EndPos, &rechdr->xl_prev);
+		inserted = ReserveXLogSwitch(&StartPos, &EndPos, &xl_prev);
 	else
 	{
-		ReserveXLogInsertLocation(rechdr->xl_tot_len, &StartPos, &EndPos,
-								  &rechdr->xl_prev);
+		ReserveXLogInsertLocation(rec_hdr_len + rec_payload_len,
+								  &StartPos, &EndPos, &xl_prev);
 		inserted = true;
 	}
 
 	if (inserted)
 	{
+		char	   *rec = (char *) rechdr;
+
+		/* fill in xl_prev */
+		memcpy(rec + rec_hdr_len - sizeof(pg_crc32c) - sizeof(XLogRecPtr),
+			   &xl_prev, sizeof(XLogRecPtr));
+
 		/*
 		 * Now that xl_prev has been filled in, calculate CRC of the record
 		 * header.
 		 */
-		rdata_crc = rechdr->xl_crc;
-		COMP_CRC32C(rdata_crc, rechdr, offsetof(XLogRecord, xl_crc));
+
+		memcpy(&rdata_crc, rec + rec_hdr_len - sizeof(pg_crc32c),
+			   sizeof(pg_crc32c));
+
+		COMP_CRC32C(rdata_crc, rec, rec_hdr_len - sizeof(pg_crc32c));
 		FIN_CRC32C(rdata_crc);
-		rechdr->xl_crc = rdata_crc;
+
+		memcpy(rec + rec_hdr_len - sizeof(pg_crc32c),
+			   &rdata_crc, sizeof(pg_crc32c));
 
 		/*
 		 * All the record data, including the header, is now ready to be
 		 * inserted. Copy the record in the space reserved.
 		 */
-		CopyXLogRecordToWAL(rechdr->xl_tot_len, isLogSwitch, rdata,
+		CopyXLogRecordToWAL(rec_hdr_len + rec_payload_len, isLogSwitch, rdata,
 							StartPos, EndPos, insertTLI);
 
 		/*
@@ -932,7 +954,8 @@ XLogInsertRecord(XLogRecData *rdata,
 		 */
 		if (inserted)
 		{
-			EndPos = StartPos + SizeOfXLogRecord;
+			/* xlog switch is minimal record header, plus a byte for rmgrinfo */
+			EndPos = StartPos + XLogRecordMinHdrSize + sizeof(uint8);
 			if (StartPos / XLOG_BLCKSZ != EndPos / XLOG_BLCKSZ)
 			{
 				uint64		offset = XLogSegmentOffset(EndPos, wal_segment_size);
@@ -949,7 +972,7 @@ XLogInsertRecord(XLogRecData *rdata,
 	if (XLOG_DEBUG)
 	{
 		static XLogReaderState *debug_reader = NULL;
-		XLogRecord *record;
+		XLogRecHdr	record;
 		DecodedXLogRecord *decoded;
 		StringInfoData buf;
 		StringInfoData recordBuf;
@@ -971,9 +994,9 @@ XLogInsertRecord(XLogRecData *rdata,
 			appendBinaryStringInfo(&recordBuf, rdata->data, rdata->len);
 
 		/* We also need temporary space to decode the record. */
-		record = (XLogRecord *) recordBuf.data;
+		record = (XLogRecHdr) recordBuf.data;
 		decoded = (DecodedXLogRecord *)
-			palloc(DecodeXLogRecordRequiredSpace(record->xl_tot_len));
+			palloc(DecodeXLogRecordRequiredSpace(recordBuf.len));
 
 		if (!debug_reader)
 			debug_reader = XLogReaderAllocate(wal_segment_size, NULL,
@@ -1018,7 +1041,7 @@ XLogInsertRecord(XLogRecData *rdata,
 	/* Report WAL traffic to the instrumentation. */
 	if (inserted)
 	{
-		pgWalUsage.wal_bytes += rechdr->xl_tot_len;
+		pgWalUsage.wal_bytes += rec_hdr_len + rec_payload_len;
 		pgWalUsage.wal_records++;
 		pgWalUsage.wal_fpi += num_fpi;
 	}
@@ -1049,10 +1072,10 @@ ReserveXLogInsertLocation(int size, XLogRecPtr *StartPos, XLogRecPtr *EndPos,
 	uint64		endbytepos;
 	uint64		prevbytepos;
 
-	size = MAXALIGN(size);
+	size = XLP_ALIGN(size);
 
 	/* All (non xlog-switch) records should contain data. */
-	Assert(size > SizeOfXLogRecord);
+	Assert(size > XLogRecordMinHdrSize);
 
 	/*
 	 * The duration the spinlock needs to be held is minimized by minimizing
@@ -1103,7 +1126,7 @@ ReserveXLogSwitch(XLogRecPtr *StartPos, XLogRecPtr *EndPos, XLogRecPtr *PrevPtr)
 	uint64		startbytepos;
 	uint64		endbytepos;
 	uint64		prevbytepos;
-	uint32		size = MAXALIGN(SizeOfXLogRecord);
+	uint32		size = XLP_ALIGN(XLogRecordMinHdrSize + sizeof(uint8));
 	XLogRecPtr	ptr;
 	uint32		segleft;
 
@@ -1176,10 +1199,10 @@ CopyXLogRecordToWAL(int write_len, bool isLogSwitch, XLogRecData *rdata,
 	freespace = INSERT_FREESPACE(CurrPos);
 
 	/*
-	 * there should be enough space for at least the first field (xl_tot_len)
+	 * there should be enough space for at least the first XL_ALIGN quantum
 	 * on this page.
 	 */
-	Assert(freespace >= sizeof(uint32));
+	Assert(freespace >= XLP_ALIGN(1));
 
 	/* Copy record data */
 	written = 0;
@@ -1247,7 +1270,7 @@ CopyXLogRecordToWAL(int write_len, bool isLogSwitch, XLogRecData *rdata,
 	if (isLogSwitch && XLogSegmentOffset(CurrPos, wal_segment_size) != 0)
 	{
 		/* An xlog-switch record doesn't contain any data besides the header */
-		Assert(write_len == SizeOfXLogRecord);
+		Assert(write_len == XLogRecordMinHdrSize + sizeof(uint8));
 
 		/* Assert that we did reserve the right amount of space */
 		Assert(XLogSegmentOffset(EndPos, wal_segment_size) == 0);
@@ -1291,7 +1314,7 @@ CopyXLogRecordToWAL(int write_len, bool isLogSwitch, XLogRecData *rdata,
 	else
 	{
 		/* Align the end position, so that the next record starts aligned */
-		CurrPos = MAXALIGN64(CurrPos);
+		CurrPos = XLP_ALIGN(CurrPos);
 	}
 
 	if (CurrPos != EndPos)
@@ -4649,11 +4672,15 @@ BootStrapXLOG(void)
 	char	   *buffer;
 	XLogPageHeader page;
 	XLogLongPageHeader longpage;
-	XLogRecord *record;
+	XLogRecHdr rec_hdr;
+	char	   *baserecptr;
 	char	   *recptr;
 	uint64		sysidentifier;
 	struct timeval tv;
 	pg_crc32c	crc;
+	const int		rec_hdr_len = offsetof(XLogRecHdrData, xl_hdrdata) +
+		sizeof(uint8) + sizeof(XLogRecPtr) + sizeof(pg_crc32c);
+	const int		rec_payload_len = sizeof(uint8) * 2 + sizeof(CheckPoint);
 
 	/* allow ordinary WAL segment creation, like StartupXLOG() would */
 	SetInstallXLogFileSegmentActive();
@@ -4724,28 +4751,52 @@ BootStrapXLOG(void)
 	longpage->xlp_seg_size = wal_segment_size;
 	longpage->xlp_xlog_blcksz = XLOG_BLCKSZ;
 
+	/* if this changes, we need to update the code below */
+	Assert(XLogLengthToSizeClass(SizeOfXLogRecordDataHeaderShort + sizeof(checkPoint), XLS_UINT32) == XLS_UINT8);
+	/* if this changes, we need to add XLR_HAS_RMGRINFO */
+	Assert(XLOG_CHECKPOINT_SHUTDOWN == 0);
+
 	/* Insert the initial checkpoint record */
-	recptr = ((char *) page + SizeOfXLogLongPHD);
-	record = (XLogRecord *) recptr;
-	record->xl_prev = 0;
-	record->xl_xid = InvalidTransactionId;
-	record->xl_tot_len = SizeOfXLogRecord + SizeOfXLogRecordDataHeaderShort + sizeof(checkPoint);
-	record->xl_info = 0;
-	record->xl_rmgrinfo = XLOG_CHECKPOINT_SHUTDOWN;
-	record->xl_rmid = RM_XLOG_ID;
-	recptr += SizeOfXLogRecord;
+	baserecptr = recptr = (((char *) page) + SizeOfXLogLongPHD);
+
+	rec_hdr = (XLogRecHdr) baserecptr;
+	rec_hdr->xl_info = (char) XLS_UINT8;
+	rec_hdr->xl_rmid = (char) RM_XLOG_ID;
+	recptr += offsetof(XLogRecHdrData, xl_hdrdata);
+
+	recptr += XLogWriteLength(SizeOfXLogRecordDataHeaderShort + sizeof(checkPoint),
+							  XLS_UINT8, XLS_UINT8, recptr);
+
+	/* include prevptr */
+	{
+		XLogRecPtr prevptr = 0;
+		memcpy(recptr, &prevptr, sizeof(XLogRecPtr));
+		recptr += sizeof(XLogRecPtr);
+	}
+
+	/* reserve location of crc */
+	recptr += sizeof(pg_crc32c);
+
+	Assert(recptr - baserecptr == XLogRecordHdrLen(rec_hdr->xl_info));
+	Assert(recptr - baserecptr == rec_hdr_len);
+
 	/* fill the XLogRecordDataHeaderShort struct */
 	*(recptr++) = (char) XLR_BLOCK_ID_DATA_SHORT;
 	*(recptr++) = sizeof(checkPoint);
 	memcpy(recptr, &checkPoint, sizeof(checkPoint));
 	recptr += sizeof(checkPoint);
-	Assert(recptr - (char *) record == record->xl_tot_len);
+
+	/* Assert length of record matches expectations */
+	Assert(recptr - baserecptr == XLogRecordTotalLength(rec_hdr));
+	Assert((rec_hdr)->xl_info == XLS_UINT8);
 
 	INIT_CRC32C(crc);
-	COMP_CRC32C(crc, ((char *) record) + SizeOfXLogRecord, record->xl_tot_len - SizeOfXLogRecord);
-	COMP_CRC32C(crc, (char *) record, offsetof(XLogRecord, xl_crc));
+	COMP_CRC32C(crc, baserecptr + rec_hdr_len, rec_payload_len);
+	COMP_CRC32C(crc, baserecptr, rec_hdr_len - sizeof(pg_crc32c));
 	FIN_CRC32C(crc);
-	record->xl_crc = crc;
+
+	memcpy(baserecptr + rec_hdr_len - sizeof(pg_crc32c),
+		   &crc, sizeof(pg_crc32c));
 
 	/* Create first XLOG segment file */
 	openLogTLI = BootstrapTimeLineID;
diff --git a/src/backend/access/transam/xloginsert.c b/src/backend/access/transam/xloginsert.c
index 4816c5284b..194196f596 100644
--- a/src/backend/access/transam/xloginsert.c
+++ b/src/backend/access/transam/xloginsert.c
@@ -545,12 +545,16 @@ XLogRecordAssemble(RmgrId rmid, uint8 info, uint8 rmgr_info, XLogRecPtr RedoRecP
 				   XLogRecPtr *fpw_lsn, int *num_fpi, bool *topxid_included)
 {
 	XLogRecData *rdt;
-	uint64		total_len = 0;
+	uint64		payload_len = 0;
+	XLogSizeClass payload_sizeclass = XLS_EMPTY;
 	int			block_id;
 	pg_crc32c	rdata_crc;
 	registered_buffer *prev_regbuf = NULL;
 	XLogRecData *rdt_datas_last;
-	XLogRecord *rechdr;
+	TransactionId xid;
+	XLogRecHdr	rechdr;
+	uint8		xlr_flags = 0;
+	uint32		rec_hdr_len;
 	char	   *scratch = hdr_scratch;
 
 	/*
@@ -558,9 +562,10 @@ XLogRecordAssemble(RmgrId rmid, uint8 info, uint8 rmgr_info, XLogRecPtr RedoRecP
 	 * All the modifications we do to the rdata chains below must handle that.
 	 */
 
-	/* The record begins with the fixed-size header */
-	rechdr = (XLogRecord *) scratch;
-	scratch += SizeOfXLogRecord;
+	/* The record begins with the variable-size header */
+	rechdr = (XLogRecHdr) scratch;
+
+	scratch += XLogRecordMaxHdrSize;
 
 	hdr_rdt.next = NULL;
 	rdt_datas_last = &hdr_rdt;
@@ -779,7 +784,7 @@ XLogRecordAssemble(RmgrId rmid, uint8 info, uint8 rmgr_info, XLogRecPtr RedoRecP
 				}
 			}
 
-			total_len += bimg.length;
+			payload_len += bimg.length;
 		}
 
 		if (needs_data)
@@ -797,7 +802,7 @@ XLogRecordAssemble(RmgrId rmid, uint8 info, uint8 rmgr_info, XLogRecPtr RedoRecP
 			bkpb.fork_flags |= BKPBLOCK_HAS_DATA;
 			data_length = (uint16) regbuf->rdata_len;
 			data_sizeclass = XLogLengthToSizeClass(data_length, XLS_UINT16);
-			total_len += regbuf->rdata_len;
+			payload_len += regbuf->rdata_len;
 
 			rdt_datas_last->next = regbuf->rdata_head;
 			rdt_datas_last = regbuf->rdata_tail;
@@ -851,16 +856,33 @@ XLogRecordAssemble(RmgrId rmid, uint8 info, uint8 rmgr_info, XLogRecPtr RedoRecP
 	}
 
 	/* followed by toplevel XID, if not already included in previous record */
-	if (curinsert_flags & XLOG_INCLUDE_XID && IsSubxactTopXidLogPending())
+	if (curinsert_flags & XLOG_INCLUDE_XID)
 	{
-		TransactionId xid = GetTopTransactionIdIfAny();
+		xid = GetCurrentTransactionIdIfAny();
+
+		if (IsSubxactTopXidLogPending())
+		{
+			TransactionId txid = GetTopTransactionIdIfAny();
+
+			xlr_flags |= XLR_HAS_XID;
+			Assert(TransactionIdIsValid(xid));
 
-		/* Set the flag that the top xid is included in the WAL */
-		*topxid_included = true;
+			/* Set the flag that the top xid is included in the WAL */
+			*topxid_included = true;
 
-		*(scratch++) = (char) XLR_BLOCK_ID_TOPLEVEL_XID;
-		memcpy(scratch, &xid, sizeof(TransactionId));
-		scratch += sizeof(TransactionId);
+			*(scratch++) = (char) XLR_BLOCK_ID_TOPLEVEL_XID;
+			memcpy(scratch, &txid, sizeof(TransactionId));
+			scratch += sizeof(TransactionId);
+		}
+		else if (TransactionIdIsValid(xid))
+		{
+			xlr_flags |= XLR_HAS_XID;
+		}
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		xid = InvalidTransactionId;
+		Assert((xlr_flags & XLR_HAS_XID) == 0);
 	}
 
 	/* followed by main data, if any */
@@ -889,12 +911,64 @@ XLogRecordAssemble(RmgrId rmid, uint8 info, uint8 rmgr_info, XLogRecPtr RedoRecP
 		}
 		rdt_datas_last->next = mainrdata_head;
 		rdt_datas_last = mainrdata_last;
-		total_len += mainrdata_len;
+		payload_len += mainrdata_len;
 	}
 	rdt_datas_last->next = NULL;
 
-	hdr_rdt.len = (scratch - hdr_scratch);
-	total_len += hdr_rdt.len;
+	/* Add the block headers section's length to the payload */
+	payload_len += scratch - (hdr_scratch + XLogRecordMaxHdrSize);
+
+	/*
+	 * Fill in the fields in the record header. Prev-link is filled in later,
+	 * once we know where in the WAL the record will be inserted. The CRC does
+	 * not include the record header yet.
+	 */
+	payload_sizeclass = XLogLengthToSizeClass(payload_len, XLS_UINT32);
+
+	xlr_flags |= payload_sizeclass;
+
+	if (rmgr_info != 0)
+		xlr_flags |= XLR_HAS_RMGRINFO;
+
+	/* Set up the xlog header. and xl_rmgr */
+	rechdr->xl_info = xlr_flags;
+	rechdr->xl_rmid = rmid;
+
+	rec_hdr_len = 0;
+
+	/* next, xl_payload_len */
+	rec_hdr_len += XLogWriteLength(payload_len, payload_sizeclass,
+								   XLS_UINT32,
+								   &rechdr->xl_hdrdata[rec_hdr_len]);
+
+	if (xlr_flags & XLR_HAS_RMGRINFO)
+		rechdr->xl_hdrdata[rec_hdr_len++] = (char) rmgr_info;
+
+	if (xlr_flags & XLR_HAS_XID)
+	{
+		Assert(curinsert_flags & XLOG_INCLUDE_XID);
+		Assert(TransactionIdIsValid(xid));
+
+		memcpy(&rechdr->xl_hdrdata[rec_hdr_len], &xid, sizeof(TransactionId));
+		rec_hdr_len += sizeof(TransactionId);
+	}
+
+	/* reserve space for XLogRecPtr and checksum */
+	rec_hdr_len += sizeof(XLogRecPtr);
+	rec_hdr_len += sizeof(pg_crc32c);
+	/* Add static header length */
+	rec_hdr_len += offsetof(XLogRecHdrData, xl_hdrdata);
+
+	Assert(rec_hdr_len == XLogRecordHdrLen(rechdr->xl_info));
+
+	/* move the record to be placed the rest of the payload */
+	memmove(hdr_scratch + XLogRecordMaxHdrSize - rec_hdr_len,
+			hdr_scratch, rec_hdr_len);
+
+	rechdr = (XLogRecHdr) (hdr_scratch + XLogRecordMaxHdrSize - rec_hdr_len);
+
+	hdr_rdt.data = (char *) rechdr;
+	hdr_rdt.len = (scratch - hdr_rdt.data);
 
 	/*
 	 * Calculate CRC of the data
@@ -905,10 +979,14 @@ XLogRecordAssemble(RmgrId rmid, uint8 info, uint8 rmgr_info, XLogRecPtr RedoRecP
 	 * header.
 	 */
 	INIT_CRC32C(rdata_crc);
-	COMP_CRC32C(rdata_crc, hdr_scratch + SizeOfXLogRecord, hdr_rdt.len - SizeOfXLogRecord);
+	COMP_CRC32C(rdata_crc, hdr_scratch + XLogRecordMaxHdrSize,
+				hdr_rdt.len - rec_hdr_len);
 	for (rdt = hdr_rdt.next; rdt != NULL; rdt = rdt->next)
 		COMP_CRC32C(rdata_crc, rdt->data, rdt->len);
 
+	memcpy(hdr_rdt.data + rec_hdr_len - sizeof(pg_crc32c),
+		   &rdata_crc, sizeof(pg_crc32c));
+
 	/*
 	 * Ensure that the XLogRecord is not too large.
 	 *
@@ -917,28 +995,11 @@ XLogRecordAssemble(RmgrId rmid, uint8 info, uint8 rmgr_info, XLogRecPtr RedoRecP
 	 * not emit records larger than the sizes advertised to be supported. This
 	 * cap is based on DecodeXLogRecordRequiredSpace().
 	 */
-	if (total_len >= XLogRecordMaxSize)
+	if (payload_len + rec_hdr_len >= XLogRecordMaxSize)
 		ereport(ERROR,
 				(errmsg_internal("oversized WAL record"),
 				 errdetail_internal("WAL record would be %llu bytes (of maximum %u bytes); rmid %u flags %u.",
-									(unsigned long long) total_len, XLogRecordMaxSize, rmid, info)));
-
-	/*
-	 * Fill in the fields in the record header. Prev-link is filled in later,
-	 * once we know where in the WAL the record will be inserted. The CRC does
-	 * not include the record header yet.
-	 */
-	if (curinsert_flags & XLOG_INCLUDE_XID)
-		rechdr->xl_xid = GetCurrentTransactionIdIfAny();
-	else
-		rechdr->xl_xid = InvalidTransactionId;
-
-	rechdr->xl_tot_len = (uint32) total_len;
-	rechdr->xl_info = info;
-	rechdr->xl_rmid = rmid;
-	rechdr->xl_rmgrinfo = rmgr_info;
-	rechdr->xl_prev = InvalidXLogRecPtr;
-	rechdr->xl_crc = rdata_crc;
+									(unsigned long long) payload_len, XLogRecordMaxSize, rmid, info)));
 
 	return &hdr_rdt;
 }
diff --git a/src/backend/access/transam/xlogreader.c b/src/backend/access/transam/xlogreader.c
index 9f8687ae45..3f0143642d 100644
--- a/src/backend/access/transam/xlogreader.c
+++ b/src/backend/access/transam/xlogreader.c
@@ -49,8 +49,9 @@ static int	ReadPageInternal(XLogReaderState *state, XLogRecPtr pageptr,
 static void XLogReaderInvalReadState(XLogReaderState *state);
 static XLogPageReadResult XLogDecodeNextRecord(XLogReaderState *state, bool nonblocking);
 static bool ValidXLogRecordHeader(XLogReaderState *state, XLogRecPtr RecPtr,
-								  XLogRecPtr PrevRecPtr, XLogRecord *record, bool randAccess);
-static bool ValidXLogRecord(XLogReaderState *state, XLogRecord *record,
+								  XLogRecPtr PrevRecPtr, XLogRecHdr rechdr,
+								  bool randAccess);
+static bool ValidXLogRecord(XLogReaderState *state, XLogRecHdr record,
 							XLogRecPtr recptr);
 static void ResetDecoder(XLogReaderState *state);
 static void WALOpenSegmentInit(WALOpenSegment *seg, WALSegmentContext *segcxt,
@@ -535,7 +536,7 @@ static XLogPageReadResult
 XLogDecodeNextRecord(XLogReaderState *state, bool nonblocking)
 {
 	XLogRecPtr	RecPtr;
-	XLogRecord *record;
+	XLogRecHdr	record;
 	XLogRecPtr	targetPagePtr;
 	bool		randAccess;
 	uint32		len,
@@ -602,7 +603,7 @@ restart:
 	 * fits on the same page.
 	 */
 	readOff = ReadPageInternal(state, targetPagePtr,
-							   Min(targetRecOff + SizeOfXLogRecord, XLOG_BLCKSZ));
+							   Min(targetRecOff + XLogRecordMaxHdrSize, XLOG_BLCKSZ));
 	if (readOff == XLREAD_WOULDBLOCK)
 		return XLREAD_WOULDBLOCK;
 	else if (readOff < 0)
@@ -644,13 +645,13 @@ restart:
 	 * Read the record length.
 	 *
 	 * NB: Even though we use an XLogRecord pointer here, the whole record
-	 * header might not fit on this page. xl_tot_len is the first field of the
-	 * struct, so it must be on this page (the records are MAXALIGNed), but we
-	 * cannot access any other fields until we've verified that we got the
-	 * whole header.
+	 * header might not fit on this page. xl_payload_len is the third field of
+	 * the data and starts at the third byte, so it must be on this page (the
+	 * records are aligned to 8 bytes), but we cannot access most other fields
+	 * until we've verified that we got the whole header.
 	 */
-	record = (XLogRecord *) (state->readBuf + RecPtr % XLOG_BLCKSZ);
-	total_len = record->xl_tot_len;
+	record = (XLogRecHdr) (state->readBuf + (RecPtr % XLOG_BLCKSZ));
+	total_len = XLogRecordTotalLength(record);
 
 	/*
 	 * If the whole record header is on this page, validate it immediately.
@@ -660,7 +661,7 @@ restart:
 	 * record" code path below; otherwise we might fail to apply
 	 * ValidXLogRecordHeader at all.
 	 */
-	if (targetRecOff <= XLOG_BLCKSZ - SizeOfXLogRecord)
+	if (targetRecOff <= XLOG_BLCKSZ - XLogRecordHdrLen(record->xl_info))
 	{
 		if (!ValidXLogRecordHeader(state, RecPtr, state->DecodeRecPtr, record,
 								   randAccess))
@@ -683,12 +684,12 @@ restart:
 								  LSN_FORMAT_ARGS(RecPtr));
 			goto err;
 		}
-		if (total_len < SizeOfXLogRecord)
+		if (total_len < XLogRecordMinHdrSize)
 		{
 			report_invalid_record(state,
 								  "invalid record length at %X/%X: expected at least %u, got %u",
 								  LSN_FORMAT_ARGS(RecPtr),
-								  (uint32) SizeOfXLogRecord, total_len);
+								  (uint32) XLogRecordMinHdrSize, total_len);
 			goto err;
 		}
 		gotheader = false;
@@ -831,7 +832,7 @@ restart:
 			/* If we just reassembled the record header, validate it. */
 			if (!gotheader)
 			{
-				record = (XLogRecord *) state->readRecordBuf;
+				record = (XLogRecHdr) state->readRecordBuf;
 				if (!ValidXLogRecordHeader(state, RecPtr, state->DecodeRecPtr,
 										   record, randAccess))
 					goto err;
@@ -841,14 +842,14 @@ restart:
 
 		Assert(gotheader);
 
-		record = (XLogRecord *) state->readRecordBuf;
+		record = (XLogRecHdr) state->readRecordBuf;
 		if (!ValidXLogRecord(state, record, RecPtr))
 			goto err;
 
 		pageHeaderSize = XLogPageHeaderSize((XLogPageHeader) state->readBuf);
 		state->DecodeRecPtr = RecPtr;
 		state->NextRecPtr = targetPagePtr + pageHeaderSize
-			+ MAXALIGN(pageHeader->xlp_rem_len);
+			+ XLP_ALIGN(pageHeader->xlp_rem_len);
 	}
 	else
 	{
@@ -864,7 +865,7 @@ restart:
 		if (!ValidXLogRecord(state, record, RecPtr))
 			goto err;
 
-		state->NextRecPtr = RecPtr + MAXALIGN(total_len);
+		state->NextRecPtr = RecPtr + XLP_ALIGN(total_len);
 
 		state->DecodeRecPtr = RecPtr;
 	}
@@ -873,7 +874,7 @@ restart:
 	 * Special processing if it's an XLOG SWITCH record
 	 */
 	if (record->xl_rmid == RM_XLOG_ID &&
-		record->xl_rmgrinfo == XLOG_SWITCH)
+		XLRHdrGetRmgrInfo(record) == XLOG_SWITCH)
 	{
 		/* Pretend it extends to end of segment */
 		state->NextRecPtr += state->segcxt.ws_segsize - 1;
@@ -892,7 +893,7 @@ restart:
 		if (!decoded->oversized)
 		{
 			/* The new decode buffer head must be MAXALIGNed. */
-			Assert(decoded->size == MAXALIGN(decoded->size));
+			Assert(decoded->size == XLP_ALIGN(decoded->size));
 			if ((char *) decoded == state->decode_buffer)
 				state->decode_buffer_tail = state->decode_buffer + decoded->size;
 			else
@@ -1123,22 +1124,25 @@ XLogReaderInvalReadState(XLogReaderState *state)
  */
 static bool
 ValidXLogRecordHeader(XLogReaderState *state, XLogRecPtr RecPtr,
-					  XLogRecPtr PrevRecPtr, XLogRecord *record,
+					  XLogRecPtr PrevRecPtr, XLogRecHdr rechdr,
 					  bool randAccess)
 {
-	if (record->xl_tot_len < SizeOfXLogRecord)
+	XLogRecord	record = {0};
+	XLogReadRecHdrInto(rechdr, XLogRecordHdrLen(rechdr->xl_info), &record);
+
+	if (XLogRecordTotalLength(rechdr) < XLogRecordMinHdrSize)
 	{
 		report_invalid_record(state,
 							  "invalid record length at %X/%X: expected at least %u, got %u",
 							  LSN_FORMAT_ARGS(RecPtr),
-							  (uint32) SizeOfXLogRecord, record->xl_tot_len);
+							  (uint32) XLogRecordMinHdrSize, record.xl_payload_len);
 		return false;
 	}
-	if (!RmgrIdIsValid(record->xl_rmid))
+	if (!RmgrIdIsValid(rechdr->xl_rmid))
 	{
 		report_invalid_record(state,
 							  "invalid resource manager ID %u at %X/%X",
-							  record->xl_rmid, LSN_FORMAT_ARGS(RecPtr));
+							  rechdr->xl_rmid, LSN_FORMAT_ARGS(RecPtr));
 		return false;
 	}
 	if (randAccess)
@@ -1147,12 +1151,14 @@ ValidXLogRecordHeader(XLogReaderState *state, XLogRecPtr RecPtr,
 		 * We can't exactly verify the prev-link, but surely it should be less
 		 * than the record's own address.
 		 */
-		if (!(record->xl_prev < RecPtr))
+		if (!(record.xl_prev < RecPtr))
 		{
 			report_invalid_record(state,
-								  "record with incorrect prev-link %X/%X at %X/%X",
-								  LSN_FORMAT_ARGS(record->xl_prev),
-								  LSN_FORMAT_ARGS(RecPtr));
+								  "record with incorrect prev-link %X/%X at %X/%X, info %u, rmgr %u",
+								  LSN_FORMAT_ARGS(record.xl_prev),
+								  LSN_FORMAT_ARGS(RecPtr),
+								  (uint32) record.xl_info,
+								  (uint32) record.xl_rmid);
 			return false;
 		}
 	}
@@ -1163,12 +1169,13 @@ ValidXLogRecordHeader(XLogReaderState *state, XLogRecPtr RecPtr,
 		 * check guards against torn WAL pages where a stale but valid-looking
 		 * WAL record starts on a sector boundary.
 		 */
-		if (record->xl_prev != PrevRecPtr)
+		if (record.xl_prev != PrevRecPtr)
 		{
 			report_invalid_record(state,
-								  "record with incorrect prev-link %X/%X at %X/%X",
-								  LSN_FORMAT_ARGS(record->xl_prev),
-								  LSN_FORMAT_ARGS(RecPtr));
+								  "record with incorrect prev-link %X/%X at %X/%X, expected %X/%X",
+								  LSN_FORMAT_ARGS(record.xl_prev),
+								  LSN_FORMAT_ARGS(RecPtr),
+								  LSN_FORMAT_ARGS(PrevRecPtr));
 			return false;
 		}
 	}
@@ -1188,19 +1195,26 @@ ValidXLogRecordHeader(XLogReaderState *state, XLogRecPtr RecPtr,
  * SizeOfXLogRecord.
  */
 static bool
-ValidXLogRecord(XLogReaderState *state, XLogRecord *record, XLogRecPtr recptr)
+ValidXLogRecord(XLogReaderState *state, XLogRecHdr record, XLogRecPtr recptr)
 {
-	pg_crc32c	crc;
+	pg_crc32c	crc,
+				hdr_crc;
+	Size		hdr_len = XLogRecordHdrLen(record->xl_info);
+	Size		rec_length = XLogRecordTotalLength(record);
 
 	/* Calculate the CRC */
 	INIT_CRC32C(crc);
-	COMP_CRC32C(crc, ((char *) record) + SizeOfXLogRecord, record->xl_tot_len - SizeOfXLogRecord);
+	COMP_CRC32C(crc, ((char *) record) + hdr_len, rec_length - hdr_len);
 	/* include the record header last */
-	COMP_CRC32C(crc, (char *) record, offsetof(XLogRecord, xl_crc));
+	COMP_CRC32C(crc, (char *) record, hdr_len - sizeof(pg_crc32c));
 	FIN_CRC32C(crc);
 
-	if (!EQ_CRC32C(record->xl_crc, crc))
+	memcpy(&hdr_crc, ((char *) record) + hdr_len - sizeof(pg_crc32c),
+		   sizeof(pg_crc32c));
+
+	if (!EQ_CRC32C(hdr_crc, crc))
 	{
+		Assert(false);
 		report_invalid_record(state,
 							  "incorrect resource manager data checksum in record at %X/%X",
 							  LSN_FORMAT_ARGS(recptr));
@@ -1440,7 +1454,7 @@ XLogFindNextRecord(XLogReaderState *state, XLogRecPtr RecPtr)
 			 *
 			 * Note that record headers are MAXALIGN'ed
 			 */
-			if (MAXALIGN(header->xlp_rem_len) >= (XLOG_BLCKSZ - pageHeaderSize))
+			if (XLP_ALIGN(header->xlp_rem_len) >= (XLOG_BLCKSZ - pageHeaderSize))
 				tmpRecPtr = targetPagePtr + XLOG_BLCKSZ;
 			else
 			{
@@ -1449,7 +1463,7 @@ XLogFindNextRecord(XLogReaderState *state, XLogRecPtr RecPtr)
 				 * tmpRecPtr to point to the first valid record
 				 */
 				tmpRecPtr = targetPagePtr + pageHeaderSize
-					+ MAXALIGN(header->xlp_rem_len);
+					+ XLP_ALIGN(header->xlp_rem_len);
 				break;
 			}
 		}
@@ -1660,7 +1674,7 @@ DecodeXLogRecordRequiredSpace(size_t xl_tot_len)
 bool
 DecodeXLogRecord(XLogReaderState *state,
 				 DecodedXLogRecord *decoded,
-				 XLogRecord *record,
+				 XLogRecHdr record,
 				 XLogRecPtr lsn,
 				 char **errormsg)
 {
@@ -1683,7 +1697,7 @@ DecodeXLogRecord(XLogReaderState *state,
 	RelFileLocator *rlocator = NULL;
 	uint8		block_id;
 
-	decoded->header = *record;
+	XLogReadRecHdrInto(record, XLogRecordHdrLen(record->xl_info), &decoded->header);
 	decoded->lsn = lsn;
 	decoded->next = NULL;
 	decoded->record_origin = InvalidRepOriginId;
@@ -1692,8 +1706,8 @@ DecodeXLogRecord(XLogReaderState *state,
 	decoded->main_data_len = 0;
 	decoded->max_block_id = -1;
 	ptr = (char *) record;
-	ptr += SizeOfXLogRecord;
-	remaining = record->xl_tot_len - SizeOfXLogRecord;
+	ptr += XLogRecordHdrLen(record->xl_info);
+	remaining = decoded->header.xl_payload_len;
 
 	/* Decode the headers */
 	datatotal = 0;
@@ -1968,8 +1982,8 @@ DecodeXLogRecord(XLogReaderState *state,
 	}
 
 	/* Report the actual size we used. */
-	decoded->size = MAXALIGN(out - (char *) decoded);
-	Assert(DecodeXLogRecordRequiredSpace(record->xl_tot_len) >=
+	decoded->size = XLP_ALIGN(out - (char *) decoded);
+	Assert(DecodeXLogRecordRequiredSpace(decoded->header.xl_payload_len) >=
 		   decoded->size);
 
 	return true;
@@ -1998,6 +2012,7 @@ XLogRecGetBlockTag(XLogReaderState *record, uint8 block_id,
 	if (!XLogRecGetBlockTagExtended(record, block_id, rlocator, forknum,
 									blknum, NULL))
 	{
+		Assert(false);
 #ifndef FRONTEND
 		elog(ERROR, "could not locate backup block with ID %d in WAL record",
 			 block_id);
diff --git a/src/backend/access/transam/xlogrecovery.c b/src/backend/access/transam/xlogrecovery.c
index 56fa2f74a2..0362ba747f 100644
--- a/src/backend/access/transam/xlogrecovery.c
+++ b/src/backend/access/transam/xlogrecovery.c
@@ -4000,10 +4000,10 @@ ReadCheckpointRecord(XLogPrefetcher *xlogprefetcher, XLogRecPtr RecPtr,
 				(errmsg("invalid xl_rmgrinfo in checkpoint record")));
 		return NULL;
 	}
-	if (record->xl_tot_len != SizeOfXLogRecord + SizeOfXLogRecordDataHeaderShort + sizeof(CheckPoint))
+	if (record->xl_payload_len != SizeOfXLogRecordDataHeaderShort + sizeof(CheckPoint))
 	{
 		ereport(LOG,
-				(errmsg("invalid length of checkpoint record")));
+				(errmsg("invalid payload length of checkpoint record")));
 		return NULL;
 	}
 	return record;
diff --git a/src/bin/pg_resetwal/pg_resetwal.c b/src/bin/pg_resetwal/pg_resetwal.c
index 80cb9a5bc4..4e171eed1f 100644
--- a/src/bin/pg_resetwal/pg_resetwal.c
+++ b/src/bin/pg_resetwal/pg_resetwal.c
@@ -1040,12 +1040,15 @@ WriteEmptyXLOG(void)
 	PGAlignedXLogBlock buffer;
 	XLogPageHeader page;
 	XLogLongPageHeader longpage;
-	XLogRecord *record;
 	pg_crc32c	crc;
 	char		path[MAXPGPATH];
 	int			fd;
 	int			nbytes;
 	char	   *recptr;
+	char	   *baserecptr;
+	const int		rec_hdr_len = offsetof(XLogRecHdrData, xl_hdrdata) +
+		sizeof(uint8) + sizeof(XLogRecPtr) + sizeof(pg_crc32c);
+	const int		rec_payload_len = sizeof(uint8) * 2 + sizeof(CheckPoint);
 
 	memset(buffer.data, 0, XLOG_BLCKSZ);
 
@@ -1061,26 +1064,33 @@ WriteEmptyXLOG(void)
 	longpage->xlp_xlog_blcksz = XLOG_BLCKSZ;
 
 	/* Insert the initial checkpoint record */
-	recptr = (char *) page + SizeOfXLogLongPHD;
-	record = (XLogRecord *) recptr;
-	record->xl_prev = 0;
-	record->xl_xid = InvalidTransactionId;
-	record->xl_tot_len = SizeOfXLogRecord + SizeOfXLogRecordDataHeaderShort + sizeof(CheckPoint);
-	record->xl_info = 0;
-	record->xl_rmgrinfo = XLOG_CHECKPOINT_SHUTDOWN;
-	record->xl_rmid = RM_XLOG_ID;
-
-	recptr += SizeOfXLogRecord;
+	baserecptr = recptr = (char *) page + SizeOfXLogLongPHD;
+	*(recptr++) = (char) XLS_UINT8;
+	*(recptr++) = (char) RM_XLOG_ID;
+	recptr += XLogWriteLength(SizeOfXLogRecordDataHeaderShort + sizeof(CheckPoint),
+							  XLS_UINT8, XLS_UINT8, recptr);
+
+	/* include prevptr */
+	{
+		XLogRecPtr prevptr = 0;
+		memcpy(recptr, &prevptr, sizeof(XLogRecPtr));
+		recptr += sizeof(XLogRecPtr);
+	}
+	/* reserve location of crc */
+	recptr += sizeof(pg_crc32c);
+
 	*(recptr++) = (char) XLR_BLOCK_ID_DATA_SHORT;
 	*(recptr++) = sizeof(CheckPoint);
 	memcpy(recptr, &ControlFile.checkPointCopy,
 		   sizeof(CheckPoint));
 
 	INIT_CRC32C(crc);
-	COMP_CRC32C(crc, ((char *) record) + SizeOfXLogRecord, record->xl_tot_len - SizeOfXLogRecord);
-	COMP_CRC32C(crc, (char *) record, offsetof(XLogRecord, xl_crc));
+	COMP_CRC32C(crc, baserecptr + rec_hdr_len, rec_payload_len);
+	COMP_CRC32C(crc, baserecptr, rec_hdr_len - sizeof(pg_crc32c));
 	FIN_CRC32C(crc);
-	record->xl_crc = crc;
+
+	memcpy(baserecptr + rec_hdr_len - sizeof(pg_crc32c),
+		   &crc, sizeof(pg_crc32c));
 
 	/* Write the first page */
 	XLogFilePath(path, ControlFile.checkPointCopy.ThisTimeLineID,
diff --git a/src/include/access/xlog_internal.h b/src/include/access/xlog_internal.h
index 8b3c9b9598..ea32a9ba1b 100644
--- a/src/include/access/xlog_internal.h
+++ b/src/include/access/xlog_internal.h
@@ -26,7 +26,15 @@
 #include "pgtime.h"
 #include "storage/block.h"
 #include "storage/relfilelocator.h"
+#include "transam.h"
 
+/*
+ * WAL records (and other XLogPage page-level content) are aligned to 8 bytes.
+ *
+ * Note that the contents of the records is not aligned (!)
+ */
+#define ALIGNOF_XLP_CONTENT 8
+#define XLP_ALIGN(LEN) TYPEALIGN64(ALIGNOF_XLP_CONTENT, LEN)
 
 /*
  * Each page of XLOG file has a header like this:
@@ -49,7 +57,7 @@ typedef struct XLogPageHeaderData
 	uint32		xlp_rem_len;	/* total len of remaining data for record */
 } XLogPageHeaderData;
 
-#define SizeOfXLogShortPHD	MAXALIGN(sizeof(XLogPageHeaderData))
+#define SizeOfXLogShortPHD	XLP_ALIGN(sizeof(XLogPageHeaderData))
 
 typedef XLogPageHeaderData *XLogPageHeader;
 
@@ -66,7 +74,7 @@ typedef struct XLogLongPageHeaderData
 	uint32		xlp_xlog_blcksz;	/* just as a cross-check */
 } XLogLongPageHeaderData;
 
-#define SizeOfXLogLongPHD	MAXALIGN(sizeof(XLogLongPageHeaderData))
+#define SizeOfXLogLongPHD	XLP_ALIGN(sizeof(XLogLongPageHeaderData))
 
 typedef XLogLongPageHeaderData *XLogLongPageHeader;
 
@@ -381,7 +389,7 @@ static inline Size XLogWriteLength(uint32 length, XLogSizeClass sizeClass,
 		case caseSizeClass: \
 			if ((caseSizeClass) <= maxSizeClass) \
 			{ \
-				field_type typedLength = length; \
+				field_type typedLength = (field_type) length; \
 				memcpy(output, &typedLength, sizeof(field_type)); \
 				written = sizeof(field_type); \
 			} \
@@ -394,6 +402,9 @@ static inline Size XLogWriteLength(uint32 length, XLogSizeClass sizeClass,
 		WRITE_OP(XLS_UINT8, uint8);
 		WRITE_OP(XLS_UINT16, uint16);
 		WRITE_OP(XLS_UINT32, uint32);
+		default:
+			Assert(false);
+			pg_unreachable();
 	}
 
 #undef WRITE_OP
@@ -436,12 +447,95 @@ static inline Size XLogReadLength(uint32 *length, XLogSizeClass sizeClass,
 		READ_OP(XLS_UINT8, uint8);
 		READ_OP(XLS_UINT16, uint16);
 		READ_OP(XLS_UINT32, uint32);
+		default:
+			Assert(false);
+			pg_unreachable();
 	}
 
 #undef READ_OP
 	return readSize;
 }
 
+
+inline static uint8 XLRHdrGetRmgrInfo(XLogRecHdr record)
+{
+	XLogSizeClass recSizeClass;
+	int			offset;
+
+	if (!(record->xl_info & XLR_HAS_RMGRINFO))
+		return 0;
+
+	recSizeClass = XLR_SIZECLASS(record->xl_info);
+	/* xl_rmgrinfo is located immediately behind the xl_payload_len field */
+	offset = XLogSizeClassToByteLength(recSizeClass);
+
+	return (uint8) record->xl_hdrdata[offset];
+}
+
+
+/* Works on any partial record */
+inline static Size XLogRecordTotalLength(XLogRecHdr record)
+{
+	uint8		xl_info = record->xl_info;
+	XLogSizeClass sizeClass;
+	uint32		length = 0;
+	sizeClass = XLR_SIZECLASS(xl_info);
+
+	XLogReadLength(&length, sizeClass, XLS_UINT32,
+				   &record->xl_hdrdata[0], 6);
+
+	return (Size) length + XLogRecordHdrLen(xl_info);
+}
+
+inline static void XLogReadRecHdrInto(XLogRecHdr recdata, Size length,
+									  XLogRecord *record)
+{
+	Size offset		= 0;
+	Size hdr_size PG_USED_FOR_ASSERTS_ONLY = 0;
+	XLogSizeClass sizeClass;
+
+	Assert(length >= XLogRecordMinHdrSize);
+
+	record->xl_info = recdata->xl_info;
+
+	hdr_size = XLogRecordHdrLen(record->xl_info);
+	Assert(length >= hdr_size);
+
+	record->xl_rmid = recdata->xl_rmid;
+
+	sizeClass = XLR_SIZECLASS(record->xl_info);
+	offset += XLogReadLength(&record->xl_payload_len, sizeClass,
+							 XLS_UINT32, &recdata->xl_hdrdata[offset], length - offset);
+
+	if (record->xl_info & XLR_HAS_RMGRINFO)
+	{
+		record->xl_rmgrinfo = recdata->xl_hdrdata[offset];
+		offset += sizeof(uint8);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		record->xl_rmgrinfo = 0;
+	}
+
+	if (record->xl_info & XLR_HAS_XID)
+	{
+		memcpy(&record->xl_xid, &recdata->xl_hdrdata[offset], sizeof(TransactionId));
+		offset += sizeof(TransactionId);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		record->xl_xid = InvalidTransactionId;
+	}
+
+	memcpy(&record->xl_prev, &recdata->xl_hdrdata[offset], sizeof(XLogRecPtr));
+	offset += sizeof(XLogRecPtr);
+
+	memcpy(&record->xl_crc, &recdata->xl_hdrdata[offset], sizeof(pg_crc32c));
+	offset += sizeof(pg_crc32c);
+
+	Assert(hdr_size - 2 == offset);
+}
+
 /*
  * Method table for resource managers.
  *
diff --git a/src/include/access/xlogreader.h b/src/include/access/xlogreader.h
index a1d0216404..bb64f89dba 100644
--- a/src/include/access/xlogreader.h
+++ b/src/include/access/xlogreader.h
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ extern bool WALRead(XLogReaderState *state,
 extern size_t DecodeXLogRecordRequiredSpace(size_t xl_tot_len);
 extern bool DecodeXLogRecord(XLogReaderState *state,
 							 DecodedXLogRecord *decoded,
-							 XLogRecord *record,
+							 XLogRecHdr record,
 							 XLogRecPtr lsn,
 							 char **errormsg);
 
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ extern bool DecodeXLogRecord(XLogReaderState *state,
  * Macros that provide access to parts of the record most recently returned by
  * XLogReadRecord() or XLogNextRecord().
  */
-#define XLogRecGetTotalLen(decoder) ((decoder)->record->header.xl_tot_len)
+#define XLogRecGetTotalLen(decoder) ((decoder)->record->header.xl_payload_len)
 #define XLogRecGetPrev(decoder) ((decoder)->record->header.xl_prev)
 #define XLogRecGetInfo(decoder) ((decoder)->record->header.xl_info)
 #define XLogRecGetRmgrInfo(decoder) ((decoder)->record->header.xl_rmgrinfo)
diff --git a/src/include/access/xlogrecord.h b/src/include/access/xlogrecord.h
index 42b06f163e..af615e2866 100644
--- a/src/include/access/xlogrecord.h
+++ b/src/include/access/xlogrecord.h
@@ -38,9 +38,38 @@ typedef enum XLogSizeClass {
 	XLS_UINT32 = 3		/* length <= UINT32_MAX; stored in uint32 (4B) */
 } XLogSizeClass;
 
+static inline int XLogSizeClassToByteLength(XLogSizeClass sz)
+{
+	switch (sz) {
+		case XLS_EMPTY:
+			return 0;
+		case XLS_UINT8:
+			return sizeof(uint8);
+		case XLS_UINT16:
+			return sizeof(uint16);
+		case XLS_UINT32:
+			return sizeof(uint32);
+		default:
+			pg_unreachable();
+	}
+}
+
+typedef struct XLogRecord
+{
+	uint8		xl_info;		/* flag bits, see below */
+	RmgrId		xl_rmid;		/* resource manager for this record */
+	uint32		xl_payload_len;		/* total len of entire record */
+	uint8		xl_rmgrinfo;	/* rmgr flag bits, see below */
+	TransactionId xl_xid;		/* xact id */
+	XLogRecPtr	xl_prev;		/* ptr to previous record in log */
+	pg_crc32c	xl_crc;			/* CRC for this record */
+} XLogRecord;
+
+#define SizeOfXLogRecord	(offsetof(XLogRecord, xl_crc) + sizeof(pg_crc32c))
+
 /*
  * The overall layout of an XLOG record is:
- *		Fixed-size header (XLogRecord struct)
+ *		Variable-size header (containing the data of the XLogRecord struct)
  *		XLogRecordBlockHeader struct
  *		XLogRecordBlockHeader struct
  *		...
@@ -50,6 +79,15 @@ typedef enum XLogSizeClass {
  *		...
  *		main data
  *
+ * Different xlog record headers need to store different header fields, so
+ * depending on flags in the xl_info field the layout may change.
+ * 
+ * Note that for records with a payload larger than 0xFFFFFFF, the size field
+ * will be 4 bytes long, which can be larger than the minimum MAXALIGN quantum.
+ * To still be able to read the record correctly, we always align WAL to 8
+ * bytes, so that the length bytes are always present in the first aligned
+ * quantum of data.
+ *
  * There can be zero or more XLogRecordBlockHeaders, and 0 or more bytes of
  * rmgr-specific data not associated with a block.  XLogRecord structs
  * always start on MAXALIGN boundaries in the WAL files, but the rest of
@@ -59,22 +97,25 @@ typedef enum XLogSizeClass {
  * XLogRecordDataHeaderLong structs all begin with a single 'id' byte. It's
  * used to distinguish between block references, and the main data structs.
  */
-typedef struct XLogRecord
+typedef struct XLogRecHdrData
 {
-	uint32		xl_tot_len;		/* total len of entire record */
-	TransactionId xl_xid;		/* xact id */
-	XLogRecPtr	xl_prev;		/* ptr to previous record in log */
 	uint8		xl_info;		/* flag bits, see below */
 	RmgrId		xl_rmid;		/* resource manager for this record */
-	uint8		xl_rmgrinfo;	/* rmgr flag bits, see below */
-	/* 1 byte of padding here, initialize to zero */
-	pg_crc32c	xl_crc;			/* CRC for this record */
-
-	/* XLogRecordBlockHeaders and XLogRecordDataHeader follow, no padding */
+	char		xl_hdrdata[FLEXIBLE_ARRAY_MEMBER]; /* variable length record data */
 
-} XLogRecord;
+	/*
+	 * Payload is as follows, in order:
+	 *	XLogRecord data encoded
+	 *		xl_payload_len; 0, 1, 2 or 4 bytes
+	 *		xl_rmgrinfo; 0 or 1 byte
+	 *		xl_xid; 0 or 4 bytes
+	 *		xl_prev; 8 bytes
+	 *		xl_prev follows; 8 bytes
+	 *	record payload, if present.
+	 */
+} XLogRecHdrData;
 
-#define SizeOfXLogRecord	(offsetof(XLogRecord, xl_crc) + sizeof(pg_crc32c))
+typedef XLogRecHdrData *XLogRecHdr;
 
 /*
  * XLogReader needs to allocate all the data of a WAL record in a single
@@ -87,13 +128,28 @@ typedef struct XLogRecord
  */
 #define XLogRecordMaxSize	(1020 * 1024 * 1024)
 
+#define XLR_SIZECLASS_MASK		0x03
+#define XLR_SIZECLASS(xl_info) ((XLogSizeClass) ((xl_info) & XLR_SIZECLASS_MASK))
+
+/*
+ * There are several rmgrs which don't use info bits, so we omit that
+ * byte whenever possible.
+ */
+#define XLR_HAS_RMGRINFO		0x04
+
+/*
+ * If a WAL record uses the current transaction ID, that will be included
+ * in the record header. In all other cases we omit the XID to save bytes.
+ */
+#define XLR_HAS_XID				0x08
+
 /*
  * If a WAL record modifies any relation files, in ways not covered by the
  * usual block references, this flag is set. This is not used for anything
  * by PostgreSQL itself, but it allows external tools that read WAL and keep
  * track of modified blocks to recognize such special record types.
  */
-#define XLR_SPECIAL_REL_UPDATE	0x01
+#define XLR_SPECIAL_REL_UPDATE	0x10
 
 /*
  * Enforces consistency checks of replayed WAL at recovery. If enabled,
@@ -102,7 +158,48 @@ typedef struct XLogRecord
  * of XLogInsert can use this value if necessary, but if
  * wal_consistency_checking is enabled for a rmgr this is set unconditionally.
  */
-#define XLR_CHECK_CONSISTENCY	0x02
+#define XLR_CHECK_CONSISTENCY	(0x20)
+
+#define XLogRecordMaxHdrSize ( \
+	sizeof(uint8) /* xl_info */ + \
+	sizeof(uint8) /* xl_rmid */ + \
+	sizeof(uint32) /* xl_payload_len */ + \
+	sizeof(uint8) /* xl_rmgrinfo */ + \
+	sizeof(TransactionId) /* xl_xid */ + \
+	sizeof(XLogRecPtr) /* xl_prev */ + \
+	sizeof(pg_crc32c) /* xl_crc */ \
+)
+
+#define XLogRecordMinHdrSize ( \
+	sizeof(uint8) /* xl_info */ + \
+	sizeof(uint8) /* xl_rmid */ + \
+	0 /* xl_payload_len */ + \
+	0 /* xl_rmgrinfo */ + \
+	0 /* xl_xid */ + \
+	sizeof(XLogRecPtr) /* xl_prev */ + \
+	sizeof(pg_crc32c) /* xl_crc */ \
+)
+
+static inline Size XLogRecordHdrLen(uint8 info)
+{
+	Size size = 0;
+	/* xl_info */
+	size += sizeof(uint8);
+	/* xl_rmid */
+	size += sizeof(uint8);
+	/* xl_payload_len */
+	size += XLogSizeClassToByteLength(XLR_SIZECLASS(info));
+	/* xl_rmgrinfo */
+	size += ((info) & XLR_HAS_RMGRINFO) ? sizeof(uint8) : 0;
+	/* xl_xid */
+	size += ((info) & XLR_HAS_XID) ? sizeof(TransactionId) : 0;
+	/* xl_prev */
+	size += sizeof(XLogRecPtr);
+	/* xl_crc */
+	size += sizeof(pg_crc32c);
+
+	return size;
+}
 
 /*
  * Header info for block data appended to an XLOG record.
-- 
2.40.1