If you get a hosting machine of your own, it will operate independently, so it'll have its own Operating System and you'll be able to later install server side programs directly or script-driven internet sites via a hosting Cp. While keeping the Os updated is not always considered an absolute necessity, it can be a rather important task for a variety of reasons. A more modern Operating system version could have better support for certain hardware, so you might get better performance for the internet sites and web apps you install. Your server will also be more secure since updates often include security patches that deal with small issues that may permit unauthorized people to access your content. Last, but not least, current script versions, which are also released for both boosted security and for additional features, may require a later version of the Os in order to work properly and with their full capabilities.