Update, I was able to install vmware tools by using this resource given by VMware support: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1002402
However the issue remains where I'm unable to update the box via yum, rpm, nor register via rhn_register:
# rhn_register
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/sbin/rhn_register", line 30, in ?
from up2date_client import up2dateAuth
File "/usr/share/rhn/up2date_client/up2dateAuth.py", line 4, in ?
import rhnserver
File "/usr/share/rhn/up2date_client/rhnserver.py", line 21, in ?
import rpcServer
File "/usr/share/rhn/up2date_client/rpcServer.py", line 12, in ?
import clientCaps
File "/usr/share/rhn/up2date_client/clientCaps.py", line 10, in ?
import capabilities
File "/usr/share/rhn/up2date_client/capabilities.py", line 4, in ?
import up2dateErrors
File "/usr/share/rhn/up2date_client/up2dateErrors.py", line 12, in ?
import OpenSSL
File "/usr/lib/python2.4/site-packages/OpenSSL/__init__.py", line 11, in ?
import rand, crypto, SSL, tsafe
ImportError: /usr/lib/python2.4/site-packages/OpenSSL/rand.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS32