Embodiments are provided herein for efficient component communication and resource utilization in a disaggregated computing system. A general purpose link is provided between a plurality of devices in the disaggregated computing system such that the general purpose link is used to connect the plurality of devices. For those of the plurality of devices communicating with one another within a same pool, the connection of the general purpose link is established using a backplane to facilitate the communication; and for those of the plurality of devices communicating with one another within differing pools, the connection of the general purpose link is established through an optical switching device to facilitate the communication.