diff --git a/dashboard/parameters.py b/dashboard/parameters.py
index 3003217dd..bb4e4a886 100644
--- a/dashboard/parameters.py
+++ b/dashboard/parameters.py
@@ -14,8 +14,10 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import flask
+from oslo.config import cfg
 from six.moves.urllib import parse
 
+from dashboard import vault
 from stackalytics.openstack.common import log as logging
 
 
@@ -23,9 +25,6 @@ LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 DEFAULTS = {
-    'metric': 'commits',
-    'release': 'icehouse',
-    'project_type': 'openstack',
     'review_nth': 5,
 }
 
@@ -33,7 +32,6 @@ METRIC_LABELS = {
     'loc': 'Lines of code',
     'commits': 'Commits',
     'marks': 'Reviews',
-    'tm_marks': 'Top Mentors',
     'emails': 'Emails',
     'bpd': 'Drafted Blueprints',
     'bpc': 'Completed Blueprints',
@@ -43,7 +41,6 @@ METRIC_TO_RECORD_TYPE = {
     'loc': 'commit',
     'commits': 'commit',
     'marks': 'mark',
-    'tm_marks': 'mark',
     'emails': 'email',
     'bpd': 'bpd',
     'bpc': 'bpc',
@@ -54,6 +51,19 @@ DEFAULT_STATIC_ACTIVITY_SIZE = 100
 
 
 def get_default(param_name):
+    if 'release' not in DEFAULTS:
+        release = cfg.CONF.default_release
+        if not release:
+            runtime_storage_inst = vault.get_vault()['runtime_storage']
+            releases = runtime_storage_inst.get_by_key('releases')
+            if releases:
+                release = releases[-1]['release_name']
+            else:
+                release = 'all'
+        DEFAULTS['release'] = release.lower()
+        DEFAULTS['metric'] = cfg.CONF.default_metric.lower()
+        DEFAULTS['project_type'] = cfg.CONF.default_project_type.lower()
+
     if param_name in DEFAULTS:
         return DEFAULTS[param_name]
     else:
diff --git a/etc/stackalytics.conf b/etc/stackalytics.conf
index df382141b..a78055f15 100644
--- a/etc/stackalytics.conf
+++ b/etc/stackalytics.conf
@@ -37,3 +37,12 @@
 
 # The address of file with list of programs
 # program_list_uri = https://raw.github.com/openstack/governance/master/reference/programs.yaml
+
+# Default metric
+# default_metric = marks
+
+# Default release, the most recent if not set
+# default_release =
+
+# Default project type
+# default_project_type = openstack
diff --git a/stackalytics/processor/config.py b/stackalytics/processor/config.py
index 9f2eacfb5..928117a56 100644
--- a/stackalytics/processor/config.py
+++ b/stackalytics/processor/config.py
@@ -46,4 +46,10 @@ OPTS = [
                default=('https://raw.github.com/openstack/governance/'
                         'master/reference/programs.yaml'),
                help='The address of file with list of programs'),
+    cfg.StrOpt('default-metric', default='marks',
+               help='Default metric'),
+    cfg.StrOpt('default-release',
+               help='Default release, the most recent if not set'),
+    cfg.StrOpt('default-project-type', default='openstack',
+               help='Default project type'),
 ]
diff --git a/tests/api/test_modules.py b/tests/api/test_modules.py
index 0451cd199..d1fe0e753 100644
--- a/tests/api/test_modules.py
+++ b/tests/api/test_modules.py
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ class TestAPIModules(test_api.TestAPI):
                 test_api.make_records(record_type=['commit'],
                                       module=['glance', 'nova', 'nova-cli'])):
 
-            response = self.app.get('/api/1.0/modules?project_type=all')
+            response = self.app.get('/api/1.0/modules?'
+                                    'project_type=all&metric=commits')
             modules = json.loads(response.data)['modules']
             self.assertEqual(
                 [{'id': 'glance', 'text': 'glance', 'tag': 'module'},
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ class TestAPIModules(test_api.TestAPI):
                         'project type')
 
             response = self.app.get('/api/1.0/modules?module=nova-group&'
-                                    'project_type=integrated')
+                                    'project_type=integrated&metric=commits')
             modules = json.loads(response.data)['modules']
             self.assertEqual(
                 [{'id': 'glance', 'text': 'glance', 'tag': 'module'},
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ class TestAPIModules(test_api.TestAPI):
                         'project type')
 
             response = self.app.get('/api/1.0/modules?query=glance&'
-                                    'project_type=all')
+                                    'project_type=all&metric=commits')
             modules = json.loads(response.data)['modules']
             self.assertEqual(
                 [{'id': 'glance', 'text': 'glance', 'tag': 'module'}],
diff --git a/tests/api/test_users.py b/tests/api/test_users.py
index d372485ff..0a05c0867 100644
--- a/tests/api/test_users.py
+++ b/tests/api/test_users.py
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ class TestAPIUsers(test_api.TestAPI):
                       'modules': ['nova', 'glance']}]},
                 test_api.make_records(record_type=['commit'], module=['nova'],
                                       user_id=['john_doe', 'bill_smith'])):
-            response = self.app.get('/api/1.0/users?module=nova')
+            response = self.app.get('/api/1.0/users?'
+                                    'module=nova&metric=commits')
             users = json.loads(response.data)['users']
             self.assertEqual(2, len(users))
             self.assertIn({'id': 'john_doe', 'text': 'John Doe'}, users)
@@ -49,7 +50,8 @@ class TestAPIUsers(test_api.TestAPI):
                       'modules': ['nova', 'glance']}]},
                 test_api.make_records(record_type=['commit'], module=['nova'],
                                       user_name=['John Doe', 'Bill Smith'])):
-            response = self.app.get('/api/1.0/users?module=nova&query=doe')
+            response = self.app.get('/api/1.0/users?'
+                                    'module=nova&query=doe&metric=commits')
             users = json.loads(response.data)['users']
             self.assertEqual(1, len(users))
             self.assertIn({'id': 'john_doe', 'text': 'John Doe'}, users)