Replicating data in a data storage system

A first data storage device receives a first write request from a host device to update a first subset of the data regions and sends the first write request to a second data storage device. Prior to receiving a notification from the second device that it has been updated in accordance with the first write request, the first device receives a second write request from the second device to update a second subset of the data regions and one of the two devices is selected. If the first device is selected, the first device updates only its data regions that are in the second subset but not in the first subset according to the second write request. In the case that the second device is selected, the first device updates its data regions that are in the second subset according to the second write request.