A mechanism is provided for replicating data in a data storage system that comprises a first data storage device, a second data storage device, and a third data storage device arranged to receive write requests from the first data storage device and second data storage device. The first data storage device or the second data storage device is selected using a characteristic of the first data storage device and the second data storage device. The first data storage device receives a first write request and sends the first write request to the second data storage device, and the second data storage device receives a second write request and sends the second write request to the first data storage device. The data storage device selected using the characteristic sends a write request to the third storage device in response to a notification the non-selected data storage device has completed the update.