If you get a hosting server 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 applications directly or script-driven sites via a hosting Cp. Although keeping the Os updated isn't always considered a necessity, it can be a very important task for a variety of reasons. A newer OS version may have better support for certain hardware, so you might get better performance for the internet sites and web apps that you install. Your server shall also be more protected because updates normally include security patches that deal with small issues that may permit unauthorized individuals to access your content. Last, but not least, more recent script versions, which are also released for both improved security and for additional features, may require a later version of the Operating System in order to work effectively and with their full capabilities.