A storage system includes a storage device, a shared memory, and first and second file server devices that each exclusively manages a respective portion of data stored on the storage device. During operation, the first file server device determines whether the first or second file server device manages data that is subject to the processing of a write command received by the first file server device. When the second file server device manages data that is subject to the processing of the write command, the first file server device transfers only the control data contained in the write command to the second file server device and updates data that is subject to the processing of the write command via the shared memory.