I'm not a docker user, just want to know if this is an accurate use case for docker.
Current State
We deploy custom Java apps on RHEL/VMware. To function properly, the apps depend on local Java runtime, Tomcat, local user accounts, start/stop scripts, and environment settings, all of which must be installed and configured ahead of time on the machine.
Problem: RHEL Upgrades/Maintenance
Periodic OS maintenance disrupts the environment, sometimes Tomcat, other times Java, but mostly local user accounts and permissions, forcing us to call SAs to fix the issues; it's a major PITA.
Question
Can we use docker containers to encapsulate our Java apps along with their dependencies (Java runtime, Tomcat, user accounts, local settings, etc), such that we're insulated from future maintenance on the underlying OS? In such a scenario, docker containers, not Java WAR/JAR files, become the main deployment artifacts, correct?
That's my understanding of docker, please pardon the ignorance if that makes no sense :-D