diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/config.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/config.sgml
index 1b98c416e0..b6b20a368e 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/config.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/config.sgml
@@ -2852,12 +2852,10 @@ include_dir 'conf.d'
         parameter is greater than zero, the server will switch to a new
         segment file whenever this many seconds have elapsed since the last
         segment file switch, and there has been any database activity,
-        including a single checkpoint.  (Increasing
-        <varname>checkpoint_timeout</> will reduce unnecessary
-        checkpoints on an idle system.)
-        Note that archived files that are closed early
-        due to a forced switch are still the same length as completely full
-        files.  Therefore, it is unwise to use a very short
+        including a single checkpoint (checkpoints are skipped if there is
+        no database activity).  Note that archived files that are closed
+        early due to a forced switch are still the same length as completely
+        full files.  Therefore, it is unwise to use a very short
         <varname>archive_timeout</> &mdash; it will bloat your archive
         storage.  <varname>archive_timeout</> settings of a minute or so are
         usually reasonable.  You should consider using streaming replication,
diff --git a/src/backend/access/heap/heapam.c b/src/backend/access/heap/heapam.c
index b019bc1a0d..ea579a00be 100644
--- a/src/backend/access/heap/heapam.c
+++ b/src/backend/access/heap/heapam.c
@@ -2507,7 +2507,7 @@ heap_insert(Relation relation, HeapTuple tup, CommandId cid,
 							heaptup->t_len - SizeofHeapTupleHeader);
 
 		/* filtering by origin on a row level is much more efficient */
-		XLogIncludeOrigin();
+		XLogSetRecordFlags(XLOG_INCLUDE_ORIGIN);
 
 		recptr = XLogInsert(RM_HEAP_ID, info);
 
@@ -2846,7 +2846,7 @@ heap_multi_insert(Relation relation, HeapTuple *tuples, int ntuples,
 			XLogRegisterBufData(0, tupledata, totaldatalen);
 
 			/* filtering by origin on a row level is much more efficient */
-			XLogIncludeOrigin();
+			XLogSetRecordFlags(XLOG_INCLUDE_ORIGIN);
 
 			recptr = XLogInsert(RM_HEAP2_ID, info);
 
@@ -3308,7 +3308,7 @@ l1:
 		}
 
 		/* filtering by origin on a row level is much more efficient */
-		XLogIncludeOrigin();
+		XLogSetRecordFlags(XLOG_INCLUDE_ORIGIN);
 
 		recptr = XLogInsert(RM_HEAP_ID, XLOG_HEAP_DELETE);
 
@@ -6035,7 +6035,7 @@ heap_finish_speculative(Relation relation, HeapTuple tuple)
 		XLogBeginInsert();
 
 		/* We want the same filtering on this as on a plain insert */
-		XLogIncludeOrigin();
+		XLogSetRecordFlags(XLOG_INCLUDE_ORIGIN);
 
 		XLogRegisterData((char *) &xlrec, SizeOfHeapConfirm);
 		XLogRegisterBuffer(0, buffer, REGBUF_STANDARD);
@@ -7703,7 +7703,7 @@ log_heap_update(Relation reln, Buffer oldbuf,
 	}
 
 	/* filtering by origin on a row level is much more efficient */
-	XLogIncludeOrigin();
+	XLogSetRecordFlags(XLOG_INCLUDE_ORIGIN);
 
 	recptr = XLogInsert(RM_HEAP_ID, info);
 
diff --git a/src/backend/access/transam/xact.c b/src/backend/access/transam/xact.c
index d6432165f1..e47fd4497e 100644
--- a/src/backend/access/transam/xact.c
+++ b/src/backend/access/transam/xact.c
@@ -5234,7 +5234,7 @@ XactLogCommitRecord(TimestampTz commit_time,
 		XLogRegisterData((char *) (&xl_origin), sizeof(xl_xact_origin));
 
 	/* we allow filtering by xacts */
-	XLogIncludeOrigin();
+	XLogSetRecordFlags(XLOG_INCLUDE_ORIGIN);
 
 	return XLogInsert(RM_XACT_ID, info);
 }
diff --git a/src/backend/access/transam/xlog.c b/src/backend/access/transam/xlog.c
index aa9ee5a0dd..f8ffa5c45c 100644
--- a/src/backend/access/transam/xlog.c
+++ b/src/backend/access/transam/xlog.c
@@ -442,11 +442,21 @@ typedef struct XLogwrtResult
  * the WAL record is just copied to the page and the lock is released. But
  * to avoid the deadlock-scenario explained above, the indicator is always
  * updated before sleeping while holding an insertion lock.
+ *
+ * lastImportantAt contains the LSN of the last important WAL record inserted
+ * using a given lock. This value is used to detect if there has been
+ * important WAL activity since the last time some action, like a checkpoint,
+ * was performed - allowing to not repeat the action if not. The LSN is
+ * updated for all insertions, unless the XLOG_MARK_UNIMPORTANT flag was
+ * set. lastImportantAt is never cleared, only overwritten by the LSN of newer
+ * records.  Tracking the WAL activity directly in WALInsertLock has the
+ * advantage of not needing any additional locks to update the value.
  */
 typedef struct
 {
 	LWLock		lock;
 	XLogRecPtr	insertingAt;
+	XLogRecPtr	lastImportantAt;
 } WALInsertLock;
 
 /*
@@ -541,8 +551,9 @@ typedef struct XLogCtlData
 	XLogRecPtr	unloggedLSN;
 	slock_t		ulsn_lck;
 
-	/* Time of last xlog segment switch. Protected by WALWriteLock. */
+	/* Time and LSN of last xlog segment switch. Protected by WALWriteLock. */
 	pg_time_t	lastSegSwitchTime;
+	XLogRecPtr	lastSegSwitchLSN;
 
 	/*
 	 * Protected by info_lck and WALWriteLock (you must hold either lock to
@@ -884,6 +895,9 @@ static void WALInsertLockUpdateInsertingAt(XLogRecPtr insertingAt);
  * which pages need a full-page image, and retry.  If fpw_lsn is invalid, the
  * record is always inserted.
  *
+ * 'flags' gives more in-depth control on the record being inserted. See
+ * XLogSetRecordFlags() for details.
+ *
  * The first XLogRecData in the chain must be for the record header, and its
  * data must be MAXALIGNed.  XLogInsertRecord fills in the xl_prev and
  * xl_crc fields in the header, the rest of the header must already be filled
@@ -896,7 +910,9 @@ static void WALInsertLockUpdateInsertingAt(XLogRecPtr insertingAt);
  * WAL rule "write the log before the data".)
  */
 XLogRecPtr
-XLogInsertRecord(XLogRecData *rdata, XLogRecPtr fpw_lsn)
+XLogInsertRecord(XLogRecData *rdata,
+				 XLogRecPtr fpw_lsn,
+				 uint8 flags)
 {
 	XLogCtlInsert *Insert = &XLogCtl->Insert;
 	pg_crc32c	rdata_crc;
@@ -1013,6 +1029,18 @@ XLogInsertRecord(XLogRecData *rdata, XLogRecPtr fpw_lsn)
 		 */
 		CopyXLogRecordToWAL(rechdr->xl_tot_len, isLogSwitch, rdata,
 							StartPos, EndPos);
+
+		/*
+		 * Unless record is flagged as not important, update LSN of last
+		 * important record in the current slot. When holding all locks, just
+		 * update the first one.
+		 */
+		if ((flags & XLOG_MARK_UNIMPORTANT) == 0)
+		{
+			int lockno = holdingAllLocks ? 0 : MyLockNo;
+
+			WALInsertLocks[lockno].l.lastImportantAt = StartPos;
+		}
 	}
 	else
 	{
@@ -2332,6 +2360,7 @@ XLogWrite(XLogwrtRqst WriteRqst, bool flexible)
 					XLogArchiveNotifySeg(openLogSegNo);
 
 				XLogCtl->lastSegSwitchTime = (pg_time_t) time(NULL);
+				XLogCtl->lastSegSwitchLSN = LogwrtResult.Flush;
 
 				/*
 				 * Request a checkpoint if we've consumed too much xlog since
@@ -4715,6 +4744,7 @@ XLOGShmemInit(void)
 	{
 		LWLockInitialize(&WALInsertLocks[i].l.lock, LWTRANCHE_WAL_INSERT);
 		WALInsertLocks[i].l.insertingAt = InvalidXLogRecPtr;
+		WALInsertLocks[i].l.lastImportantAt = InvalidXLogRecPtr;
 	}
 
 	/*
@@ -7431,8 +7461,9 @@ StartupXLOG(void)
 	 */
 	InRecovery = false;
 
-	/* start the archive_timeout timer running */
+	/* start the archive_timeout timer and LSN running */
 	XLogCtl->lastSegSwitchTime = (pg_time_t) time(NULL);
+	XLogCtl->lastSegSwitchLSN = EndOfLog;
 
 	/* also initialize latestCompletedXid, to nextXid - 1 */
 	LWLockAcquire(ProcArrayLock, LW_EXCLUSIVE);
@@ -7994,16 +8025,51 @@ GetFlushRecPtr(void)
 }
 
 /*
- * Get the time of the last xlog segment switch
+ * GetLastImportantRecPtr -- Returns the LSN of the last important record
+ * inserted. All records not explicitly marked as unimportant are considered
+ * important.
+ *
+ * The LSN is determined by computing the maximum of
+ * WALInsertLocks[i].lastImportantAt.
+ */
+XLogRecPtr
+GetLastImportantRecPtr(void)
+{
+	XLogRecPtr	res = InvalidXLogRecPtr;
+	int			i;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < NUM_XLOGINSERT_LOCKS; i++)
+	{
+		XLogRecPtr	last_important;
+
+		/*
+		 * Need to take a lock to prevent torn reads of the LSN, which are
+		 * possible on some of the supported platforms. WAL insert locks only
+		 * support exclusive mode, so we have to use that.
+		 */
+		LWLockAcquire(&WALInsertLocks[i].l.lock, LW_EXCLUSIVE);
+		last_important = WALInsertLocks[i].l.lastImportantAt;
+		LWLockRelease(&WALInsertLocks[i].l.lock);
+
+		if (res < last_important)
+			res = last_important;
+	}
+
+	return res;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Get the time and LSN of the last xlog segment switch
  */
 pg_time_t
-GetLastSegSwitchTime(void)
+GetLastSegSwitchData(XLogRecPtr *lastSwitchLSN)
 {
 	pg_time_t	result;
 
 	/* Need WALWriteLock, but shared lock is sufficient */
 	LWLockAcquire(WALWriteLock, LW_SHARED);
 	result = XLogCtl->lastSegSwitchTime;
+	*lastSwitchLSN = XLogCtl->lastSegSwitchLSN;
 	LWLockRelease(WALWriteLock);
 
 	return result;
@@ -8065,7 +8131,7 @@ ShutdownXLOG(int code, Datum arg)
 		 * record will go to the next XLOG file and won't be archived (yet).
 		 */
 		if (XLogArchivingActive() && XLogArchiveCommandSet())
-			RequestXLogSwitch();
+			RequestXLogSwitch(false);
 
 		CreateCheckPoint(CHECKPOINT_IS_SHUTDOWN | CHECKPOINT_IMMEDIATE);
 	}
@@ -8253,7 +8319,7 @@ CreateCheckPoint(int flags)
 	uint32		freespace;
 	XLogRecPtr	PriorRedoPtr;
 	XLogRecPtr	curInsert;
-	XLogRecPtr	prevPtr;
+	XLogRecPtr	last_important_lsn;
 	VirtualTransactionId *vxids;
 	int			nvxids;
 
@@ -8333,39 +8399,34 @@ CreateCheckPoint(int flags)
 	else
 		checkPoint.oldestActiveXid = InvalidTransactionId;
 
+	/*
+	 * Get location of last important record before acquiring insert locks (as
+	 * GetLastImportantRecPtr() also locks WAL locks).
+	 */
+	last_important_lsn = GetLastImportantRecPtr();
+
 	/*
 	 * We must block concurrent insertions while examining insert state to
 	 * determine the checkpoint REDO pointer.
 	 */
 	WALInsertLockAcquireExclusive();
 	curInsert = XLogBytePosToRecPtr(Insert->CurrBytePos);
-	prevPtr = XLogBytePosToRecPtr(Insert->PrevBytePos);
 
 	/*
-	 * If this isn't a shutdown or forced checkpoint, and we have not inserted
-	 * any XLOG records since the start of the last checkpoint, skip the
-	 * checkpoint.  The idea here is to avoid inserting duplicate checkpoints
-	 * when the system is idle. That wastes log space, and more importantly it
-	 * exposes us to possible loss of both current and previous checkpoint
-	 * records if the machine crashes just as we're writing the update.
-	 * (Perhaps it'd make even more sense to checkpoint only when the previous
-	 * checkpoint record is in a different xlog page?)
-	 *
-	 * If the previous checkpoint crossed a WAL segment, however, we create
-	 * the checkpoint anyway, to have the latest checkpoint fully contained in
-	 * the new segment. This is for a little bit of extra robustness: it's
-	 * better if you don't need to keep two WAL segments around to recover the
-	 * checkpoint.
+	 * If this isn't a shutdown or forced checkpoint, and if there has been no
+	 * WAL activity requiring a checkpoint, skip it.  The idea here is to
+	 * avoid inserting duplicate checkpoints when the system is idle.
 	 */
 	if ((flags & (CHECKPOINT_IS_SHUTDOWN | CHECKPOINT_END_OF_RECOVERY |
 				  CHECKPOINT_FORCE)) == 0)
 	{
-		if (prevPtr == ControlFile->checkPointCopy.redo &&
-			prevPtr / XLOG_SEG_SIZE == curInsert / XLOG_SEG_SIZE)
+		if (last_important_lsn == ControlFile->checkPoint)
 		{
 			WALInsertLockRelease();
 			LWLockRelease(CheckpointLock);
 			END_CRIT_SECTION();
+			ereport(DEBUG1,
+					(errmsg("checkpoint skipped due to an idle system")));
 			return;
 		}
 	}
@@ -9122,12 +9183,15 @@ XLogPutNextOid(Oid nextOid)
  * write a switch record because we are already at segment start.
  */
 XLogRecPtr
-RequestXLogSwitch(void)
+RequestXLogSwitch(bool mark_unimportant)
 {
 	XLogRecPtr	RecPtr;
 
 	/* XLOG SWITCH has no data */
 	XLogBeginInsert();
+
+	if (mark_unimportant)
+		XLogSetRecordFlags(XLOG_MARK_UNIMPORTANT);
 	RecPtr = XLogInsert(RM_XLOG_ID, XLOG_SWITCH);
 
 	return RecPtr;
@@ -9997,7 +10061,7 @@ do_pg_start_backup(const char *backupidstr, bool fast, TimeLineID *starttli_p,
 		 * recovery case described above.
 		 */
 		if (!backup_started_in_recovery)
-			RequestXLogSwitch();
+			RequestXLogSwitch(false);
 
 		do
 		{
@@ -10582,7 +10646,7 @@ do_pg_stop_backup(char *labelfile, bool waitforarchive, TimeLineID *stoptli_p)
 	 * Force a switch to a new xlog segment file, so that the backup is valid
 	 * as soon as archiver moves out the current segment file.
 	 */
-	RequestXLogSwitch();
+	RequestXLogSwitch(false);
 
 	XLByteToPrevSeg(stoppoint, _logSegNo);
 	XLogFileName(stopxlogfilename, ThisTimeLineID, _logSegNo);
diff --git a/src/backend/access/transam/xlogfuncs.c b/src/backend/access/transam/xlogfuncs.c
index 01cbd90f40..bc7253fc9b 100644
--- a/src/backend/access/transam/xlogfuncs.c
+++ b/src/backend/access/transam/xlogfuncs.c
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ pg_switch_xlog(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS)
 				 errmsg("recovery is in progress"),
 				 errhint("WAL control functions cannot be executed during recovery.")));
 
-	switchpoint = RequestXLogSwitch();
+	switchpoint = RequestXLogSwitch(false);
 
 	/*
 	 * As a convenience, return the WAL location of the switch record
diff --git a/src/backend/access/transam/xloginsert.c b/src/backend/access/transam/xloginsert.c
index 3cd273b19f..24e35a3845 100644
--- a/src/backend/access/transam/xloginsert.c
+++ b/src/backend/access/transam/xloginsert.c
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ static XLogRecData *mainrdata_head;
 static XLogRecData *mainrdata_last = (XLogRecData *) &mainrdata_head;
 static uint32 mainrdata_len;	/* total # of bytes in chain */
 
-/* Should the in-progress insertion log the origin? */
-static bool include_origin = false;
+/* flags for the in-progress insertion */
+static uint8 curinsert_flags = 0;
 
 /*
  * These are used to hold the record header while constructing a record.
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ XLogResetInsertion(void)
 	max_registered_block_id = 0;
 	mainrdata_len = 0;
 	mainrdata_last = (XLogRecData *) &mainrdata_head;
-	include_origin = false;
+	curinsert_flags = 0;
 	begininsert_called = false;
 }
 
@@ -384,13 +384,20 @@ XLogRegisterBufData(uint8 block_id, char *data, int len)
 }
 
 /*
- * Should this record include the replication origin if one is set up?
+ * Set insert status flags for the upcoming WAL record.
+ *
+ * The flags that can be used here are:
+ * - XLOG_INCLUDE_ORIGIN, to determine if the replication origin should be
+ *   included in the record.
+ * - XLOG_MARK_UNIMPORTANT, to signal that the record is not important for
+ *   durability, which allows to avoid triggering WAL archiving and other
+ *   background activity.
  */
 void
-XLogIncludeOrigin(void)
+XLogSetRecordFlags(uint8 flags)
 {
 	Assert(begininsert_called);
-	include_origin = true;
+	curinsert_flags = flags;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -450,7 +457,7 @@ XLogInsert(RmgrId rmid, uint8 info)
 		rdt = XLogRecordAssemble(rmid, info, RedoRecPtr, doPageWrites,
 								 &fpw_lsn);
 
-		EndPos = XLogInsertRecord(rdt, fpw_lsn);
+		EndPos = XLogInsertRecord(rdt, fpw_lsn, curinsert_flags);
 	} while (EndPos == InvalidXLogRecPtr);
 
 	XLogResetInsertion();
@@ -701,7 +708,8 @@ XLogRecordAssemble(RmgrId rmid, uint8 info,
 	}
 
 	/* followed by the record's origin, if any */
-	if (include_origin && replorigin_session_origin != InvalidRepOriginId)
+	if ((curinsert_flags & XLOG_INCLUDE_ORIGIN) &&
+		replorigin_session_origin != InvalidRepOriginId)
 	{
 		*(scratch++) = XLR_BLOCK_ID_ORIGIN;
 		memcpy(scratch, &replorigin_session_origin, sizeof(replorigin_session_origin));
diff --git a/src/backend/postmaster/bgwriter.c b/src/backend/postmaster/bgwriter.c
index a31d44e799..25020ab3b8 100644
--- a/src/backend/postmaster/bgwriter.c
+++ b/src/backend/postmaster/bgwriter.c
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ BackgroundWriterMain(void)
 		 * check whether there has been any WAL inserted since the last time
 		 * we've logged a running xacts.
 		 *
-		 * We do this logging in the bgwriter as its the only process that is
+		 * We do this logging in the bgwriter as it is the only process that is
 		 * run regularly and returns to its mainloop all the time. E.g.
 		 * Checkpointer, when active, is barely ever in its mainloop and thus
 		 * makes it hard to log regularly.
@@ -324,11 +324,11 @@ BackgroundWriterMain(void)
 												  LOG_SNAPSHOT_INTERVAL_MS);
 
 			/*
-			 * only log if enough time has passed and some xlog record has
-			 * been inserted.
+			 * Only log if enough time has passed and interesting records have
+			 * been inserted since the last snapshot.
 			 */
 			if (now >= timeout &&
-				last_snapshot_lsn != GetXLogInsertRecPtr())
+				last_snapshot_lsn < GetLastImportantRecPtr())
 			{
 				last_snapshot_lsn = LogStandbySnapshot();
 				last_snapshot_ts = now;
diff --git a/src/backend/postmaster/checkpointer.c b/src/backend/postmaster/checkpointer.c
index 92b0a9416d..c875f40ece 100644
--- a/src/backend/postmaster/checkpointer.c
+++ b/src/backend/postmaster/checkpointer.c
@@ -573,15 +573,21 @@ CheckpointerMain(void)
 /*
  * CheckArchiveTimeout -- check for archive_timeout and switch xlog files
  *
- * This will switch to a new WAL file and force an archive file write
- * if any activity is recorded in the current WAL file, including just
- * a single checkpoint record.
+ * This will switch to a new WAL file and force an archive file write if
+ * meaningful activity is recorded in the current WAL file. This includes most
+ * writes, including just a single checkpoint record, but excludes WAL records
+ * that were inserted with the XLOG_MARK_UNIMPORTANT flag being set (like
+ * snapshots of running transactions).  Such records, depending on
+ * configuration, occur on regular intervals and don't contain important
+ * information.  This avoids generating archives with a few unimportant
+ * records.
  */
 static void
 CheckArchiveTimeout(void)
 {
 	pg_time_t	now;
 	pg_time_t	last_time;
+	XLogRecPtr	last_switch_lsn;
 
 	if (XLogArchiveTimeout <= 0 || RecoveryInProgress())
 		return;
@@ -596,26 +602,33 @@ CheckArchiveTimeout(void)
 	 * Update local state ... note that last_xlog_switch_time is the last time
 	 * a switch was performed *or requested*.
 	 */
-	last_time = GetLastSegSwitchTime();
+	last_time = GetLastSegSwitchData(&last_switch_lsn);
 
 	last_xlog_switch_time = Max(last_xlog_switch_time, last_time);
 
-	/* Now we can do the real check */
+	/* Now we can do the real checks */
 	if ((int) (now - last_xlog_switch_time) >= XLogArchiveTimeout)
 	{
-		XLogRecPtr	switchpoint;
-
-		/* OK, it's time to switch */
-		switchpoint = RequestXLogSwitch();
-
 		/*
-		 * If the returned pointer points exactly to a segment boundary,
-		 * assume nothing happened.
+		 * Switch segment only when "important" WAL has been logged since the
+		 * last segment switch.
 		 */
-		if ((switchpoint % XLogSegSize) != 0)
-			ereport(DEBUG1,
-				(errmsg("transaction log switch forced (archive_timeout=%d)",
-						XLogArchiveTimeout)));
+		if (GetLastImportantRecPtr() > last_switch_lsn)
+		{
+			XLogRecPtr	switchpoint;
+
+			/* mark switch as unimportant, avoids triggering checkpoints */
+			switchpoint = RequestXLogSwitch(true);
+
+			/*
+			 * If the returned pointer points exactly to a segment boundary,
+			 * assume nothing happened.
+			 */
+			if ((switchpoint % XLogSegSize) != 0)
+				ereport(DEBUG1,
+						(errmsg("transaction log switch forced (archive_timeout=%d)",
+								XLogArchiveTimeout)));
+		}
 
 		/*
 		 * Update state in any case, so we don't retry constantly when the
diff --git a/src/backend/replication/logical/message.c b/src/backend/replication/logical/message.c
index 8f9dc2f47c..2211a4b223 100644
--- a/src/backend/replication/logical/message.c
+++ b/src/backend/replication/logical/message.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ LogLogicalMessage(const char *prefix, const char *message, size_t size,
 	XLogRegisterData((char *) message, size);
 
 	/* allow origin filtering */
-	XLogIncludeOrigin();
+	XLogSetRecordFlags(XLOG_INCLUDE_ORIGIN);
 
 	return XLogInsert(RM_LOGICALMSG_ID, XLOG_LOGICAL_MESSAGE);
 }
diff --git a/src/backend/storage/ipc/standby.c b/src/backend/storage/ipc/standby.c
index 875dcec1eb..112fe07677 100644
--- a/src/backend/storage/ipc/standby.c
+++ b/src/backend/storage/ipc/standby.c
@@ -961,10 +961,11 @@ LogStandbySnapshot(void)
 /*
  * Record an enhanced snapshot of running transactions into WAL.
  *
- * The definitions of RunningTransactionsData and xl_xact_running_xacts
- * are similar. We keep them separate because xl_xact_running_xacts
- * is a contiguous chunk of memory and never exists fully until it is
- * assembled in WAL.
+ * The definitions of RunningTransactionsData and xl_xact_running_xacts are
+ * similar. We keep them separate because xl_xact_running_xacts is a
+ * contiguous chunk of memory and never exists fully until it is assembled in
+ * WAL. The inserted records are marked as not being important for durability,
+ * to avoid triggering superflous checkpoint / archiving activity.
  */
 static XLogRecPtr
 LogCurrentRunningXacts(RunningTransactions CurrRunningXacts)
@@ -981,6 +982,7 @@ LogCurrentRunningXacts(RunningTransactions CurrRunningXacts)
 
 	/* Header */
 	XLogBeginInsert();
+	XLogSetRecordFlags(XLOG_MARK_UNIMPORTANT);
 	XLogRegisterData((char *) (&xlrec), MinSizeOfXactRunningXacts);
 
 	/* array of TransactionIds */
@@ -1035,6 +1037,7 @@ LogAccessExclusiveLocks(int nlocks, xl_standby_lock *locks)
 	XLogBeginInsert();
 	XLogRegisterData((char *) &xlrec, offsetof(xl_standby_locks, locks));
 	XLogRegisterData((char *) locks, nlocks * sizeof(xl_standby_lock));
+	XLogSetRecordFlags(XLOG_MARK_UNIMPORTANT);
 
 	(void) XLogInsert(RM_STANDBY_ID, XLOG_STANDBY_LOCK);
 }
diff --git a/src/include/access/xlog.h b/src/include/access/xlog.h
index c9f332c908..7d21408c4a 100644
--- a/src/include/access/xlog.h
+++ b/src/include/access/xlog.h
@@ -184,6 +184,13 @@ extern bool XLOG_DEBUG;
 #define CHECKPOINT_CAUSE_XLOG	0x0040	/* XLOG consumption */
 #define CHECKPOINT_CAUSE_TIME	0x0080	/* Elapsed time */
 
+/*
+ * Flag bits for the record being inserted, set using XLogSetRecordFlags().
+ */
+#define XLOG_INCLUDE_ORIGIN		0x01	/* include the replication origin */
+#define XLOG_MARK_UNIMPORTANT	0x02	/* record not important for durability */
+
+
 /* Checkpoint statistics */
 typedef struct CheckpointStatsData
 {
@@ -211,7 +218,9 @@ extern CheckpointStatsData CheckpointStats;
 
 struct XLogRecData;
 
-extern XLogRecPtr XLogInsertRecord(struct XLogRecData *rdata, XLogRecPtr fpw_lsn);
+extern XLogRecPtr XLogInsertRecord(struct XLogRecData *rdata,
+								   XLogRecPtr fpw_lsn,
+								   uint8 flags);
 extern void XLogFlush(XLogRecPtr RecPtr);
 extern bool XLogBackgroundFlush(void);
 extern bool XLogNeedsFlush(XLogRecPtr RecPtr);
@@ -262,6 +271,7 @@ extern void GetFullPageWriteInfo(XLogRecPtr *RedoRecPtr_p, bool *doPageWrites_p)
 extern XLogRecPtr GetRedoRecPtr(void);
 extern XLogRecPtr GetInsertRecPtr(void);
 extern XLogRecPtr GetFlushRecPtr(void);
+extern XLogRecPtr GetLastImportantRecPtr(void);
 extern void GetNextXidAndEpoch(TransactionId *xid, uint32 *epoch);
 extern void RemovePromoteSignalFiles(void);
 
diff --git a/src/include/access/xlog_internal.h b/src/include/access/xlog_internal.h
index ceb0462098..05f996b127 100644
--- a/src/include/access/xlog_internal.h
+++ b/src/include/access/xlog_internal.h
@@ -283,8 +283,8 @@ extern const RmgrData RmgrTable[];
 /*
  * Exported to support xlog switching from checkpointer
  */
-extern pg_time_t GetLastSegSwitchTime(void);
-extern XLogRecPtr RequestXLogSwitch(void);
+extern pg_time_t GetLastSegSwitchData(XLogRecPtr *lastSwitchLSN);
+extern XLogRecPtr RequestXLogSwitch(bool mark_uninmportant);
 
 extern void GetOldestRestartPoint(XLogRecPtr *oldrecptr, TimeLineID *oldtli);
 
diff --git a/src/include/access/xloginsert.h b/src/include/access/xloginsert.h
index cc0177ef4e..307cfaaf47 100644
--- a/src/include/access/xloginsert.h
+++ b/src/include/access/xloginsert.h
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
 
 /* prototypes for public functions in xloginsert.c: */
 extern void XLogBeginInsert(void);
-extern void XLogIncludeOrigin(void);
+extern void XLogSetRecordFlags(uint8 flags);
 extern XLogRecPtr XLogInsert(RmgrId rmid, uint8 info);
 extern void XLogEnsureRecordSpace(int nbuffers, int ndatas);
 extern void XLogRegisterData(char *data, int len);