If you get a hosting machine of your own, it will run independently, so it'll have its own Os and you can later install server side programs directly or script-driven internet sites through a hosting Cp. While keeping the Os updated is not always considered an absolute necessity, it can be a very important task for several reasons. A newer OS version may have better support for specific hardware, so you might get better performance for the sites and web apps that you install. Your server will also be more secure as updates normally include security patches which fix small issues that may permit unauthorized individuals to access your content. Last, but not least, newer script versions, which are also released for both improved security and for additional features, might require a later version of the Operating System in order to work correctly and with their 100 % capabilities.