In a distributed file system, replicating data to multiple data nodes including first and second data nodes includes monitoring a stream of data in a channel of communication through a tunnel between a client and the first data node. A channel of communication is established via a direct connection to the second data node. In parallel with monitoring of the stream through the tunnel, the data in the stream through the tunnel is replicated to the second data node using the channel of communication via the direct connection to the second data node.