STM32F411VE - IAR save RAM values on debugger reset

Hi everybody,

I'm using STM32F411VE and compiling/debugging with IAR / ST-LINK.

My firmware has a structure that must be non volatile and is, thus, saved on flash everytime the machine detects that the mains have been switched off (by z-crossing detection algorithm).

This structure contains configuration parameters and counters of the machine usage, so these values are real time updated. Everytime I boot my app, the structure is downloaded into a RAM buffer, which is the real interface for my software.

My need is the following: while debugging it's common to reset the microcontroller or to re-flash it again...

1) can i preserve the location in RAM of my buffer in order to retain its state?

2) can i detect, from software, the external reset from the ST-LINK, so I can force a flash write?

Thank you very much

Giuseppe