What must an administrator do before issuing configuration commands on a switch?

Before issuing configuration commands on a switch, the administrator must enter privileged EXEC mode. This is critical because privileged EXEC mode grants access to a broader range of commands than user EXEC mode, including the ability to enter global configuration mode where the actual configuration changes are made.

In user EXEC mode, the commands are limited to monitoring the device's status and some basic device management commands. However, to configure settings or make changes to the switch's configuration, the administrator must escalate to privileged EXEC mode using the enable command. Once in this mode, the administrator can then proceed to global configuration mode, where they can issue specific configuration commands.

Entering user EXEC mode alone does not provide the necessary privileges to modify the switch's configuration, and restarting the switch is not relevant to entering configuration commands. Thus, privileged EXEC mode is the necessary step before making any configuration changes.