If you get a hosting machine of your own, it will operate independently, so it will have its own Os and you could later install server side programs directly or script-driven websites via a hosting Control Panel. Even though keeping the Os updated is not always considered a necessity, it can be a rather important task for a number of reasons. A newer Operating system version might have better support for specific hardware, so you may get better performance for the websites and web applications you install. Your server will also be more safe as updates usually include security patches that deal with small problems which may allow unauthorized individuals to access your content. Last, but not least, more recent script versions, which are also released for both enhanced security and for additional features, might require a later version of the Os in order to work effectively and with their 100 % capabilities.