If you get a hosting machine of your own, it will work independently, so it'll have its own Operating System and you'll be able to later install server side programs directly or script-driven websites via a hosting Control Panel. Though keeping the Os updated is not always considered an absolute necessity, it can be a quite important task for several reasons. A newer Operating system version might have better support for specific hardware, so you could get better performance for the internet sites and web apps that you install. Your server will also be more safe as updates normally include security patches that fix small issues which may allow unauthorized people to access your content. Last, but not least, more modern script versions, which are also released for both increased security and for additional features, may require a later version of the Os in order to work effectively and with their full capabilities.