def get_connected_nics(self):
        """
        List the :term:`NICs <NIC>` connected to this Virtual Switch.

        This method performs the "Get Connected VNICs of a Virtual Switch" HMC
        operation.

        Authorization requirements:

        * Object-access permission to this CPC.
        * Object-access permission to the backing Adapter of this Virtual
          Switch.

        Returns:

          : A list of :term:`Nic` objects. These objects will be connected in
          the resource tree (i.e. have a parent :term:`Partition` object,
          etc.) and will have the following properties set:

          * `element-uri`
          * `element-id`
          * `parent`
          * `class`

        Raises:

          :exc:`~zhmcclient.HTTPError`
          :exc:`~zhmcclient.ParseError`
          :exc:`~zhmcclient.AuthError`
          :exc:`~zhmcclient.ConnectionError`
        """
        result = self.manager.session.get(
            self.uri + '/operations/get-connected-vnics')
        nic_uris = result['connected-vnic-uris']
        nic_list = []
        parts = {}  # Key: Partition ID; Value: Partition object
        for nic_uri in nic_uris:
            m = re.match(r"^/api/partitions/([^/]+)/nics/([^/]+)/?$", nic_uri)
            part_id = m.group(1)
            nic_id = m.group(2)
            # We remember created Partition objects and reuse them.
            try:
                part = parts[part_id]
            except KeyError:
                part = self.manager.cpc.partitions.resource_object(part_id)
                parts[part_id] = part
            nic = part.nics.resource_object(nic_id)
            nic_list.append(nic)
        return nic_list