Network packets containing data of a data request received from a client machine by a leader replica of a cluster of replicas can be passed to follower replicas of the cluster, and a replicate request can be sent to the follower replicas after the network packets have been sent to the follower replicas. A mutation required by the data request can be recorded as committed upon receipt of replication confirmation messages from a quorum of the replicas, and the client machine can be notified that the mutation has been completed after the recording of the mutation as committed. In one option, the client machine can send the network packets to the leader replica, which in turn sends these network packets to the follower replicas. In another option, the client machine can send the network packets to the leader replica and to the follower replicas.